# MP High Court limits rent authority’s special eviction powers

2026-09-17T02:46:31+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that a Rent Controlling Authority cannot use special eviction powers under Chapter III-A of the MP Accommodation Control Act unless the landlord is in a category recognised under Section 23-J. Justice Vinay Saraf dismissed a landlord's appeal, agreeing that the authority lacked jurisdiction. The court found the appellant, Praveen Qureshi, was not in a special category such as a retired government servant, widow, or disabled person. The dispute over a house in Rajgarh district began in 2015, with the tenant ordered to vacate in 2017. The district court set aside that order in 2020, and the High Court upheld that decision. The High Court said the eviction order was passed completely without jurisdiction. It clarified that the appeal bar under Section 23-E only applies to orders validly passed under Chapter III-A. The second appeal was dismissed as meritless with no order as to costs.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

With this judgment, the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has reinforced a key jurisdictional limit on rent authorities in the state. Chapter III-A of the MP Accommodation Control Act, 1961, is a special, fast-track eviction mechanism designed only for a closed set of vulnerable landlord categories, such as widows or retired defence personnel. The ruling means a tenant can now successfully challenge any eviction order passed under that chapter if the landlord does not strictly fit one of the listed categories. Landlords who do not qualify must instead pursue eviction through the ordinary, slower civil court process. The next practical effect will be that Rent Controlling Authorities across Madhya Pradesh must verify a landlord's eligibility under Section 23-J before accepting any eviction application under Chapter III-A.

## Coverage

- freepressjournal.in <https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/rent-authority-cant-invoke-special-eviction-powers-in-general-cases-mp-high-court>

Tags: Indore bench, Madhya Pradesh High Court, Vinay Saraf
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