Drive against SC verdict on Rent Act

MUMBAI, Dec 29: The Brihanmumbai Bhadekaru Parishad will launch a signature drive to have the latest Supreme Court verdict on the Bombay Rent Control Act reconsidered. Signatures collected will be sent to Chief Justice J S Verma as well as President K R Narayanan, said Prakash Reddy, secretary of the tenants’ organisation.

The SC had, in a recent judgement, held that the state could not give an extension to the Bombay Rent Control Act, which is due to expire on March 31, 1998. “We feel that the judgement goes against the spirit of directive principles in the Constitution, wherein providing housing is one of the responsibilities of the state government.” There are around 19,600 old cessed buildings housing more than 20 lakh tenants. A judgement where the Rent Control Act is lifted and a market driven rent is levied would have disastrous effects on these tenants, he said.

The Parishad also voiced its concern over the “pro-builder” government, observing that its announcement on free houses to tenants was irresponsible and a pre-election gimmick. “The SRDss has failed. Similarly, despite all sops offered to the builder under the free houses for tenants’ scheme, only a handful of these buildings, which have few tenants and are located in prime areas will be benefited,” Reddy added.