MUMBAI, March 16: The day-long bandh called by traders, shop-owners and restaurant-owners against the proposed new Rent Control Act, evoked a near-total response in Mumbai on Monday.Wholesale markets and hotels in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane remained shut following the bandh call given by the joint action committee constituted by the Federation of Associations in Maharashtra.
Even as the first day of the state legislature's budget session began, the action committee held a well-attended rally of tenants, hoteliers, trade union workers and traders at Azad Maidan. Presided over by Mohan Gurnani, co-ordinator of the action committee, speakers at the rally asked for a change in the state government's review petition as it was allegedly in favour of landlords.
"We also want the government to discuss provisions of the new Rent Act with us before it is passed," Gurnani said. The action committee is an umbrella organisation encompassing dozens of other organisations opposing the state government's new RentAct.
The action committee also filed a 400-page writ petition in the Supreme Court against the government's review petition. Among other points, the petition states all the facts were not represented before the court. It also asks that the nearly 40 lakh tenants who would be affected by the new Rent Act should have a say in it.
A delegation of the action committee later met Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and conveyed their apprehensions over the new Act.
The existing Rent Control Act lapses on March 31. The Supreme Court, in its judgement of December 1997, directed the state government to enact a new Rent Control Act based on the model rent act, before it lapsed. On the government's plea urging a nine-month extension to the prevailing Act to finalise the new law, the apex court adjourned the matter for hearing on March 19.
Among those who addressed the meeting at Azad Maidan included G R Khairnar, Chandrashekhar Prabhu and representatives of several associations including the Trade Unions Joint ActionCommittee, Nagri Nivara Hakka Samiti, Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, Mumbai Bhadekaru Parishad, Federation of Retail Traders Association, Federation of Tenants Association, Bhadekaru Kruti Samiti and Girni Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti.
A meeting of the action committee scheduled for Tuesday will chalk out further plans for intensifying the stir.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
