Force majeure in a lease deed

This is the query:

So the query is if during this lockdown period the company is closed as a business is shut and is not using office can the company claim this as a force majeure event and ask for rent waiver?  

N O.  As activities of business and lease are separate and as the rent is paid on possession and enjoyment of the property, and though there is a lockdown, the lessee is in possession and enjoyment of the property though there is a lockdown.

The clause is very clear and hence the answer to your query is that the Company who took the building on a lease cannot ask for a waiver of rent. The clause I think was merely copy-pasted into the agreement to cover any possibility of the tenant not being able to pay the rent physically. Now, although there is a lockdown, banks are working and online payments are very much available.  Therefore, the tenant has to make the payment of the rent even during the lockdown period.

The tenant once had taken over the possession of the premises has to pay the rent whether he runs the business or not unless otherwise, there is a specific clause stating that only in the event the tenant conducts business rent is to be paid. I do not think that is the case.

Yes, the lesee needs to pay the rent/lease money unless a public policy, to the contrary, is duly enacted by the Government.

I agree with the experts above stating that the the clause mentioned by you may not be applicable to this situation.

This is a situation called lock down and it is temporary.

This cannot be considered as force majeure 

You may not be eligible to  take shelter under the current crisis to seek exemption or waiver of rental payment during the lock down period.

Well advised by experts, I agree.

Nothing more to add.

Thanks a lot to all respectable members for answering my query.