Traders' body urges Centre to bring comprehensive rent law

NEW DELHI: Calling for safeguards against eviction "under the garb of bona fide needs", a traders' body here today urged the Union government to introduce a comprehensive rent law that would protect the "interest of small businesses".

The Delhi Rajya Vyapar Sangathan (DRVS) has claimed that a considerable number of small traders are being evicted from their establishments by landlords "under the garb of bona fide needs".

"They talk of bona fide needs and evict us on the grounds of the orders passed by Supreme Court in 2008, but do we not have bona fide needs as well?" asked Sushil Nanda, a trader in Chawri Bazar.

DRVS president Manoj Agarwal demanded relief from eviction in case of old commercial tenancies and asked the government to promulgate an ordinance to this effect and provide a cut- off date to tenants before eviction.

He alleged that after eviction of small businesses, the premises are let out to multinational corporations at "very high rentals as they have deep pockets".

"After evicting the tenants, the landlords let out the shops to MNCs at very high rentals as they have deep pockets. This certainly cannot be a bona fide need," Agarwal said at a press conference here.

A large number of traders, who were present at the press meet, said the evictions are also affecting the families of suppliers, transporters, casual labourers and other associated agents.