Delhi govt orders landlords not to demand rent from labourers, students for 1 month

New Delhi: The Delhi government has issued orders for strict compliance of its previous order for landlords not to demand rent from labourers or migrant labourers and students for one month.

"District Magistrates shall undertake awareness campaign on the issue particularly in areas having higher density of workers/migrant workers/students to advise affected persons to lodge complaints to police control room by calling 100," the order dated, April 22 read.

The order further states that the government has been made aware of the instances where the landlords have been demanding rent from labourers and students. Therefore, the government has asked the landlords to not demand rent for at least one month. The move came post a nationwide

lockdown announced to curb the impact of the novel Coronavirus outbreak.

The order said that if the landlord will force any of the migrant labourers or students to vacate the place, he or she will be liable for action under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.

The government had announced the same earlier as well in a notice released on March 29 this year. As some did not comply with the notice issued, the government released this order for strict compliance. The order further stated that awareness campaigns will be undertaken by the District Magistrates (DM) on the same issue in the areas where the density of students or migrant labourers is high in the city. The government has also asked people who are facing eviction issues to lodge a complaint to the police. The weekly report of such cases are expected to be forwarded to the state government who will take further steps.

Earlier, the Chief Minister had appealed to the landlords to not collect the rents if their tenants are poor or are unable to pay the rent. He expressed his concerns and asked the landlords not to harass if the rent is not paid and added that if the tenant fails to pay the rent, then Delhi government will compensate for it. The government wants people to stay where they are as any migration will increase the risk of Coronavirus transmission.

Meanwhile, the total number of Coronavirus cases in the national Capital on Thursday rose to 2,376, with 128 new cases and two fresh deaths being reported in a day, according to the Delhi government authorities.

The total number of containment zones in Delhi rises to 92. The three new areas identified as containment zones over the last 24 hours include a locality each in Mehrauli, Dwarka and old Delhi.

Meanwhile, forty-six people tested positive for the novel Coronavirus in North Delhi's Jahangirpuri on Thursday, just days after 31 people of an extended family were found infected with COVID-19 in the area, officials said.

An Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) in Delhi Police and vegetable hawker in Mehrauli area were tested COVID-19 positive.