High Court relief to tenants

SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya on Monday came to the rescue of tenants by extending the time for payment of rent to the landlords.
The division bench comprising Justice W Diengdoh and HS Thangkhiew on Monday heard a petition regarding the matter via video conferencing.
The bench observed that when the matter was taken up for consideration for further extension, it has been brought to the notice of the court that the extension so granted to all interim orders/directions and compliances did not cover the aspect of rent deposits of pending rent control cases under the Meghalaya Urban Areas Rent Control Act, 1972.
Section 5, clause 4 of the Act states that when the landlord refuses to accept the lawful rent offered by his tenant, the tenant may within thirty days of its becoming due, deposit in court the amount of such rent together with process fees for service of notice upon the landlord, and on receiving such deposit, the court will cause a notice of the receipt of such deposit to be served on the landlord and the amount of the deposit may thereafter be withdrawn by the landlord on application made by him to the court. The tenant who has made such deposit will not be treated as a defaulter.
It was submitted by the counsels that due to the suspension of normal functioning of the courts, the rent deposits could not be made by the tenants in their respective cases which in turn might lead to a situation where they could be declared defaulters and decree of eviction liable to be passed against them.
The counsels pleaded so that the court can give protection to the tenants who have ongoing pending cases with their landlords. On consideration of the facts, circumstances and submissions of the counsels, the court ordered that due to the continued prevailing situation, it is fit and proper to extend the time till June 30.
The court also directed that the protection will also extend to the persons/tenants who are to deposit rents in court in connection with pending cases from March 25 till June 30.