Cabinet Okays Amendment To Public Premises (Eviction Of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for amendment to Section 2 and Section 3 of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act 1971, by inserting definition of 'residential accommodation occupation' in Section 2 of the Act and inserting provisions relating to eviction from 'residential accommodation occupation' in a new sub-section 3B.

The amendment will enable the estate officer to apply summary proceedings for evicting unauthorised occupants from residential accommodations allotted for a fixed tenure or for a period he/she holds office on the basis of an order of allotment on licence basis.

The estate officer can now make such inquiry, as he deems expedient, in the circumstances of the case and thus do not have to follow the elaborate procedures prescribed as per sections 4, 5 and 7 of the Act.

If such persons refuse or fail to comply with the said order of eviction, the estate officer may evict them from premises and take possession thereof and, for that purpose, use such force as may be necessary.

The amendment will, thus, facilitate smooth and speedy eviction of unauthorised occupants from government residences. This will ensure that the vacated accommodations are made available to eligible government employees, thus, reducing the waiting period.

The beneficiaries include employees of Central Government offices who are eligible for general pool residential accommodation and are waiting for the maturity of their turn.