Chandigarh District Court lawyers hold protest against Tenancy Act

Chandigarh, July 22

Lawyers of the District Court Chandigarh today held a protest against the implementation of the Chandigarh Union Territory Tenancy Act, 2019. Rohit Khullar, president of the association, said the protest would continue till the issue was resolved.

Khullar said the decision to observe ‘No work day’ against the Act was taken during a general house meeting. Parminder Singh Advocate, secretary, executive committee, District Bar Association (DBA), Chandigarh, said the proposed Act was in violation of the Constitution mandate of separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive.

Even as the powers to adjudicate rent matters have already been vested with the judicial officers in the District Court and the powers to adjudicate the appeals was vested with a district judge or additional district judge, the association objects to Section 37 of the said proposed Act.

The perusal of Section 37 shows that the powers of adjudication of rent matters of certain categories has been vested in the collector, who can appoint the rent authority, which will not be below the rank of deputy collector.

Vinod Verma, another advocate, said the proposed scheme was not in consonance with the procedure already in force and was against the interest of the public at large. By virtue of operation of Section 37 of the proposed Act, the authority is being vested in the collector or the deputy collector, who is not well conversant with the judicial procedure as the judicial officers are.