South Delhi Police are checking on landlords who do not comply with tenant verification rules. As per reports over 174 FIRs have been registered against such landlords under section 188 IPC so far and the drive is likely to continue in the coming weeks. The maximum offenders were booked from Saket, Malviya Nagar, Fatehpur Beri and Vasant Kunj.
In accordance with government rule landlords are not allowed to rent their houses over to tenants without a legal verification. Any violation of 188 IPC – disobedience to order promulgated by a public servant – is punishable with one month of imprisonment or a fine of Rs200, or both.
This exercise began inorder to keep the security measures tight in Delhi before Republic Day. “However, considering the high number of violations coming to light, the drive was continued,” an official told India Today.
The police team raiding comprises a of a team of constables and head constables to hold random checks in uniform. “Once a team reaches a house which has been let out, it asks for the rent agreement and the tenant verification form. Failure to produce the documents results in FIR against the landlord,” said the official.
Rakesh, 48, who lives in west Delhi and has let out his house in south Delhi, is one of the landlords who was booked by Fatehpuri police for not opting for tenant verification. Speaking to Mail Today, Rakesh said he was unaware of the rule. Police officials said, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.”
