‘Pagdi tenants’ of the Capital, running small enterprises from shops and commercial premises, have demanded protection against eviction on frivolous grounds by landlords taking advantage of the summary procedure laid down by the Supreme Court in the Satyawati Sharma case of 2008.
The Rajdhani Pagdi Kirayedar Sangathan has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter, while pointing out that the tenancies under the traditional system of Pagdi, in which the landlords took market value of the property and issued a token rent receipt, fell under the Delhi Rent Act.
Sangathan president Ravi Garg said here on Friday that the demand by the landlords for market rent and eviction on any ground, including bona fide need or death of original tenant, was in complete breach of the traditional system of Pagdi.
Eviction and demand for increase in rent are threatening about 10 lakh people, who are commercial tenants, while a large number of others engaged in supplies and providing services are being indirectly affected, said Mr. Garg.
As part of the summary procedure for eviction, the “false requirement” portrayed by the landlord is taken to be true and every ground taken by the tenant is termed irrelevant, pointed out the Sangathan. This situation amounts to a threat to the well-being of society and the trade and commerce of entire Delhi, it said.
The Sangathan representatives have met the Union Ministers concerned, all Lok Sabha MPs of Delhi, and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in this regard, but to no avail. The tenants’ body has appealed to Mr. Modi, saying he had earlier protected tenants of Gujarat while resisting strong capitalist forces.
Mr. Garg said the steps to correct the emergency situation would save the largest section of Delhi’s traders from being wiped out. Small businesses forming the lower base of society are being hit in the current situation.
Rajdhani Pagdi Kirayedar Sangathan has appealed to the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter
