No eviction on grounds of non-payment of rent if tenant poor: Delhi HC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court, dismissing a petition seeking directions to waive rent payable by tenants during the Covid-19 lockdown period, observed that “there can be no eviction, on ground of non-payment of the rent for tenants who are poor” but “it ought to be kept in mind that even the landlords can be financially dependent on the rent”.

“For canvassing an argument of waiver of rent, proof of facts is a must. There cannot be lumpsum/general submission that rent should be waived and there can be no eviction, on ground of non-payment of the rent for tenants who are poor,” said a division bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan.