CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has refused to grant an interim stay of an order passed by a single judge directing the enhancement of rent and vacating of the premises housing the Tambaram Police Commissionerate, which is functioning from a privately owned building.
The property owners, DH Sarath Kumar, D Venkatesh and DN Choudery of Kotturpuram, had filed a writ petition seeking a direction to the authorities to vacate the premises and hand over vacant possession.
In their petition, the owners said a lease deed had been executed in January 2022 for 11 months, fixing the monthly rent at Rs 10.14 lakh.
However, they alleged that in violation of the lease terms, the rent was unilaterally fixed at Rs 6.33 lakh per month based on Public Works Department guideline valuation. They further stated that cheques totalling Rs 82.16 lakh were issued towards rent for the period from January to November 2022.
Claiming that they had suffered a monthly loss of about Rs 4 lakh due to deviation from the agreed rental terms, the petitioners contended that even after they refused to extend the lease, the State continued to occupy the premises without any subsisting contract. On this ground, they sought eviction and delivery of possession.
After hearing the parties, the single judge directed enhancement of the monthly rent from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 13 lakh and ordered payment of the differential amount, totalling Rs 2.18 crore, on or before December 31, 2025.
The judge also directed the State authorities to vacate the premises and hand over possession within two years.
After hearing the parties, the single judge directed enhancement of the monthly rent from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 13 lakh and ordered payment of the differential amount, totalling Rs 2.18 crore, on or before December 31, 2025.
The judge also directed the State authorities to vacate the premises and hand over possession within two years.
After considering the submissions, the Division Bench declined to stay the single judge’s order. The Bench, however, adjourned the writ appeal for further hearing after two months.