119 shopkeepers in Fatehpuri area face eviction threat

119-odd shopkeepers of Fatehpuri area in the Walled City face eviction threat as the deadline to renew their tenancy conditions as per the Delhi Waqf Lease Rules 2014 ended on Thursday.

Some members of Waqf Tenants Welfare Association, which is leading the shopkeepers, today met the Waqf Board officials but there was “no outcome”. “We met the Delhi Waqf Board officials but no outcome was achieved,” Vice President of the Association, Preet Pal Singh said.

The Association has objected to the revised rents and bringing down of lease of period from 30 years to 3 years in the new lease rules.

“The new rent fixed by the Waqf Board are such that a shopkeeper paying say a monthly rent of Rs 1,000 will now have to pay Rs 9,000. Also, the lease period for shopkeepers has been brought down to 3 years from 30 years, which is unjust as it is 30 years for other categories such as eateries, malls, educational institutions and guest houses,” Singh said.