A plea has been filed in Supreme Court seeking action against the landlords who are forcing stranded students and migrant workers to pay their rent during the lockdown despite a government order to the contrary.
On March 29, the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued an order under the Disaster Management Act stating that landlords must not demand rent from students, workers and migrant labourers for a month.
The landlords who force labourers and students to vacate their premises will face strict action, the MHA added.
“Petition is being filed against the arbitrary and unlawful action of landlords in the state of Delhi amid COVID-19 where there is clear instruction issued by the Ministry of Home affairs that in order to maintain the lockdown situation and law and order during COVID-19, order dated March 29, 2020 ‘restraining all landlord to forcing labours and students to vacate their premises’, in case they fail to pay rent during this period,” the plea said.
The plea also stated that a number of landlords are forcing students to pay full rent failing which they will be thrown out of premises.
It also said that the students are feeling helpless as they can’t demand money from their parents who are also suffering from financial difficulties due to the nationwide lockdown.
“In situations like this, they are stuck in dire straits. If they will not be helped by the government concerned then they have to live in constant fear and depression caused by the financial crisis,” the plea said.