law: Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999 
  8. Court may fix standard rent and permitted
  
  Increases In certain cases. 
  (1) Subject to the provisions of section 9 in
  
  any of the following cases, the court may, upon an application made to it for
  
  the purpose, or in any suit or proceedings, fix the standard rent at such
  
  amount as, having regard to the provisions of this Act and the circumstances of
  
  the case, the court deems just,-
  (a) where the court is
  
  satisfied that there is no sufficient evidence to ascertain the rent at which
  
  the premises were let in any one of the cases mentioned in paragraphs (i) and
  
  (ii) of sub-clause (b) of clause (14) of section 7; or
  (b) where by reasons
  
  of the premises having been let at one time as a whole or in parts and at
  
  another time, in parts or as a whole, or for any other reasons; or
  (c) where any premises
  
  have been or are let rent-free or, at a nominal rent; or for some consideration
  
  in addition to rent; or
  (d) where there is any
  
  dispute between the landlord and the tenant regarding the amount of standard
  
  rent.
  (2) If there is any dispute between the
  
  landlord and the tenant regarding the amount of permitted increase, the court
  
  may determine such amount.
  (3) f any application for fixing the standard
  
  rent or for determining the permitted increase is made by a tenant,-
  (a) the court shall
  
  forthwith specify the amount of rent, or permitted increase which are to be
  
  deposited in court by the tenant, and make an order directing the tenant to
  
  deposit such amount in court or, at the option of the tenant, make an order to
  
  pay to the landlord such amount thereof as the court may specify pending the final
  
  decision of the application. A copy of the order shall be served upon the
  
  landlord;
  (b) out of any amount
  
  deposited in the court under clause (a), the court may make an order for
  
  payment of such reasonable sum to the landlord towards payment of the rent or
  
  increases due to him as it thinks fit;
  (c) if the tenant
  
  fails to deposit such amount or, as the case may be, to pay such amount thereof
  
  to the landlord, his application shall be dismissed.
  (4) (a) Where at any stage of a suit for recovery
  
  of rent, whether with or without a claim for possession, of the premises, the
  
  court is satisfied that the rent is excessive and standard rent should be
  
  fixed, the court may, and in any other case, if it appears to the court that it
  
  is just and proper to make such an order, the court may make an order directing
  
  the tenant to deposit in court forthwith such amount of the rent as the court
  
  considers to be reasonable due to the landlord, or at the option of the tenant,
  
  an order directing him to pay to the landlord such amount thereof as the court
  
  may specify.
  (b) The court may
  
  further make an order directing the tenant to deposit in court periodically
  
  such amount as it considers proper as interim standard rent, or at the option
  
  of the tenant, an order to pay to the landlord, such amount thereof as the
  
  court may specify, during the pendency of the suit;
  (c) The court may also
  
  direct that if the tenant fails to comply with any order made as aforesaid,
  
  within such time as may be allowed by it, he shall not be entitled to appear in
  
  or defend the suit except with leave of the court, which leave may be granted
  
  subject to such terms and conditions as the court may specify.
  (5) No appeal shall lie from any order of the
  
  court under sub-sections (3) and (4).
  (6) An application under this section may be
  
  made jointly by all or any of the tenants interested in respect of the premises
  
  situated in the same building.