Landlords can seek eviction of shop tenants: SC

New Delhi, Apr 18 (UNI) The Supreme Court has held that even the landlord of a commercial property in Delhi can seek the eviction of the tenant on the ground of bona fide requirement.

The Supreme Court in a landmark judgement ruled that section 14 (1)(e) of Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 (DRCA) is also applicable to tenants, running shops from tenanted premises.

A bench comprising Justices B N Agrawal and G S Singhvi removed the word residential from section 14 (1)(e) of DRCA.

The apex court in its judgement written by Justice Singhvi said, ''Legislation which may be quite reasonable and rational at the time of enactment may with the lapse of time and due to change of circumstances become arbitrary, unreasonable or violative of the doctrine of equality.'' With this judgement the apex court has cleared the decks for the landlords of commercial properties in prime commercial centres of the national capital such as Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh and South Eextension and others, to seek eviction of their influential and wealthy tenants who have been enjoying the properties for over 50 years without fear of eviction, on payment of paltry amount of rent.

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