Traders unhappy as SC allows eviction of commercial tenants

New Delhi, Apr 18 (UNI) The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an apex body of the trading community today expressed concern over the Supreme Court order allowing eviction of commercial tenants, saying it will encourage largescale litigations among landlords and tenants.

CAIT Delhi State chairman Murli Mani and general secretary Narender Madan said that very shortly a meeting of trade leaders will be convened to take stock of the situation arising out of the apex Court judgment.

A delegation will meet Union Government and other leading political parties and if need arises, the traders may also approach the apex Court on the matter, he said.

CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said more than half of Delhi shops are running on tenancy basis since decades and in the event of eviction of such shops by landlords, the wholesale and retail trade of Delhi will receive a big jolt.

He further said since property rates in Delhi are on a high, the landlords even if not having bonafide requirement will create artificial bonafide need and will forcibly evict the trader tenant.

In such a situation, even also the role of builders cannot be overlooked, he added.

The apex court judgment while empowering landlords to evict commercial tenants, has partly struck down a provision of the Delhi Rent (Control) Act, 1958 that barred landlords from evicting tenants from non-residential or commercial premises on the ground of bonafide requirement. It restricted landlords' right to seek eviction of tenants only to premises let out for residential purposes.

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