THOUGH THE deadline to vacate has expired, 22 tenants occupying the 41-year-old property of the erstwhile Raja of Mehmudabad in Hazratganj are unlikely to be evicted by the administration authorities, who have decided to follow a wait-and-watch policy on the issue.
On Monday, SDM (Sadar) Manoj Rai, who had issued notices to the tenants on June 26, said a letter had been sent by him to the Custodian of Enemy Property in Mumbai seeking further instructions on the matter. “I have informed the custodian that none who were served notices have so far vacated the premises,” said Rai adding that the future course action would depend on the directions he might receive from Mumbai.
He said only one tenant (Tayal of UP Asbestos) had turned up and given his representation stating that the property was allotted to him prior to September 10, 1965.
Here, it is pertinent to mention that the Supreme Court on October 21 had ordered that the possession of all property allotted by the custodian after September 10, 1965 was to be handed back to the heir apparent of the Raja of Mehmudabad.
While the apex court directed all government officers and offices operating from the Raja’s property to vacate the premises immediately, the order was silent on private individuals living in them as tenants. Not surprising, therefore, when the administration here sought clear instructions from the Custodian on how they were supposed to proceed against individual tenants, the latter wrote back on June 16 stating that “to the extent possible” all enemy properties allotted after September 10, 1965 were to be vacated.
{{/usCountry}}While the apex court directed all government officers and offices operating from the Raja’s property to vacate the premises immediately, the order was silent on private individuals living in them as tenants. Not surprising, therefore, when the administration here sought clear instructions from the Custodian on how they were supposed to proceed against individual tenants, the latter wrote back on June 16 stating that “to the extent possible” all enemy properties allotted after September 10, 1965 were to be vacated.
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