New Delhi, May 17 (PTI): Coming to the aid of landlords, the Supreme Court has ruled that recalcitrant tenants can be forcibly evicted by the police if they fail to vacate the premises within the deadline given by the court.
A bench of justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra said that it was passing the extraordinary order as it was vexed with the increasing number of cases in the country where tenants are refusing to vacate despite orders from even the country's highest court.
"We further make it clear that when this Court allows the petition/appeal of the landlord or dismisses the petition/appeal of the tenant and grants some time to vacate the premises in question and if the tenant does not vacate within the time granted, the tenant shall be evicted by police force.
"This is a general direction we are passing because we are coming across several cases where the tenants are not vacating the premises in question despite granting time by this Court or despite furnishing an undertaking to this Court with a result that the landlord has to initiate contempt proceedings or any other proceedings.
"Hence, we give a general direction that when tenant's petition/appeal is dismissed and he is given time to vacate then on the expiry of that time, he will be evicted by police force if he does not vacate of his own. If any extension of time to vacate is desired, that application should be filed well in advance," Justice Katju writing the judgement said.
The apex court passed the order while dealing with an interlocutory application moved by a tenant Ram Prakash Sharma seeking further time to vacate his rented premises.
"In the facts and circumstances of the case, time to vacate the premises in question is extended till 31st August, 2011 and if the tenants do not vacate on or before the said date, they will be evicted by police force," the bench said in its order.
Early last week the bench had summoned Delhi's Additional District Judge Archana Sinha for giving a stay on the eviction order passed by the apex court.
Furious at the judge's conduct, the court had directed the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court to initiate disciplinary action against the lady judge.