Bengaluru property owners can breathe easier following a landmark Supreme Court ruling in November 2025. The court definitively stated that tenants cannot claim ownership of rented properties through adverse possession, no matter how long they occupy—even 12 years or more—under the Limitation Act, 1963.[1][2]

Case Breakdown

In Jyoti Sharma vs. Vishnu Goyal, a tenant from a 1953 lease tried asserting ownership after decades. Justices J.K. Maheshwari and K. Vinod Chandran ruled that tenancy starts as permissive possession, lacking the “hostile” intent needed for adverse claims. Lower courts were overturned, granting landlords eviction rights post-arrears clearance with a six-month grace period.[3][4][5]

Real Estate Impacts

• Landlord Wins: Validates rent deeds as ironclad proof of title; no inaction waives ownership.
• Tenant Limits: Long stays don’t ripen into title without denying landlord rights upfront and openly.
• Market Stability: Reduces litigation risks for investors in Bengaluru’s residential/commercial boom.

Action Steps for Owners

• Renew leases regularly and document inspections.
• Act fast on defaults via eviction suits.
• Use registered agreements to block future disputes.

This ruling echoes precedents like Ravinder Kaur Grewal (2019), prioritizing active management in India’s property sector.[6][7]

  Tenant Ownership