Admn gives 24 hrs to 20 tenants

TIME IS ticking away for the 20 post-65 tenants of the erstwhile Raja of Mahmudabad, who were issued fresh notices by the district administration on Monday to vacate their premises within 24 hours.

TIME IS ticking away for the 20 post-65 tenants of the erstwhile Raja of Mahmudabad, who were issued fresh notices by the district administration on Monday to vacate their premises within 24 hours.

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The Custodian of Enemy Property in Mumbai, according to sources in administration, has rejected the claim of post-65 occupants that they be treated on a par with the pre-65 tenants’ as they were mere business associates of the original leaseholder of the Raja. “Though we do not want to use force, we would be left with no option if those who have been served notices refuse to move voluntarily,” said an administration officer.

Those on the hit list include 13 shopkeepers of Janpath Market, who would lose a major portion of their shops that spreads out on property belonging to Lawrie Building and seven occupants of Mahmudabad Mansion in Hazratganj. According to administration officials, the Custodian has refused to entertain the claim of Premier Motors Private Limited, whose owner Peush Tandon had claimed pre-65 status for the present occupant of the premises GD Baluja of Fairdeal Agencies on the ground that he was his business associate.

“We have received a list of 20 tenants from the Custodian, who are to be evicted and the possession of their premises is to be handed over either to the Raja or his authorized representative. And the list includes the name of Fairdeal Agencies,” said Manoj Rai managing officer of the property when contacted by HT Lucknow Live.

Like Tandon, JK Wahal of the Oriental Motors Corporation (OMC) in Lawrie Building too was seeking similar status for the 13 Janpath shopkeepers, who were sub-let the property by him. Himself a pre 65 tenant of the Raja, Wahal’s contention was that under the old Rent Control Act, he was empowered to sub-let the property.