Contextual reading of rent control law treats legal practice as business, enabling landlord-advocate eviction rights.

The term "business" in rent control legislation must be construed in light of the statute's context and scheme, not by importing meanings from different enactments. Applying that contextual reading to the Andhra Pradesh Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1960, the Court held that the practice of law falls within "business" for Section 10(3)(a)(iii). As a result, a landlord-advocate could seek eviction of a tenant from a non-residential building for his professional use. The decision emphasises that liberal professions may be covered where the statutory language and purpose support a broad construction.

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Issues: Whether the practice of the legal profession is "business" within the meaning of Section 10(3)(a)(iii) of the Andhra Pradesh Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1960, so as to entitle a landlord-advocate to seek eviction of a tenant from a non-residential building.

Analysis: The expression "business" was not defined in the Act and had to be understood from the statutory context. The Act was a general rent control legislation intended to regulate leasing, rent and eviction and to prevent unreasonable eviction. Its provisions applied broadly to non-residential buildings, and the scheme did not support a narrow construction that would exclude members of the legal or medical professions from seeking possession for the use of their premises. The Court distinguished authorities arising under different statutes where "business" or similar expressions were used in a different setting. It held that words in one enactment cannot be controlled by their use in another enactment when the statutory context is materially different. On that contextual construction, "business" in Section 10(3)(a)(iii) was wide enough to include the practice of law.

Conclusion: The practice of law is business within the meaning of Section 10(3)(a)(iii), and the landlord was entitled to seek eviction on that ground.

Ratio Decidendi: The meaning of "business" in rent control legislation must be determined from the context and scheme of the statute, and in that context it can include the practice of a liberal profession such as law.

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