MUMBAI, June 27: The final draft of the new legislation to replace the Bombay Rent Act, 1947, has been prepared by the 12-member Joint Select Committee constituted by the State Government. The joint committee finalised the draft rent bill at a meeting held at Ratnagiri district on June 24, 1998.The draft will be presented before the State Assembly during the monsoon session, which begins on July 20, Housing Minister Suresh Kumar Jain, also the head of the joint committee, told The Indian Express today.
The much awaited draft bill will legalise the pugree system. Besides, as the increase in rent rates this year will be marginal, landlords are already gearing up to file a contempt suit in the Supreme Court.
The Property Owners' Association has decided to file a suit when the rent act draft is tabled in the House, its executive president B R Bhattad said. The decision was taken at a meeting of the association held last night.
According to Bhattad, a five per cent increase in rent is of noconsequence and amounts to a mockery of the Supreme Court order. ``The Government should not divide the tenant and the landlord but strive for a common solution,'' Bhattad suggested.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
