Eviction powers of estate officers docked

The Urban Development Ministry has issued a notification curtailing the powers of estate officers to evict tenants of public premises, mainly public sector undertakings and financial institutions.

In a move reportedly prompted by complaints on the misuse of Public Premises (Eviction of unauthorised occupants) Act, 1971, by estate officers, the notification seeks to decide the unauthorised occupation of premises by ‘‘following the due procedure of law.’’

It states that the ‘‘provisions of the Act should not be resorted to with a commercial motive or to secure vacant possession of the premises in order to accommodate their own employees,’’ in cases where the tenants had been let the premises by the public authorities or the original owners from whom the premises were acquired.