Now Reading: Mumbai landlords can now approach DCP to evict tenants
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Mumbai landlords can now approach DCP to evict tenants
The Story in Brief
Mumbai landlords whose leave and licence agreements have expired but whose flats remain occupied can now approach their local Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for eviction, under a new Maharashtra government notification. The state government on 31 July 2026 appointed all 15 zonal DCPs of the Mumbai Police Commissionerate as competent authorities under the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999.
Landlords must apply to the DCP of the zone where the flat is located, attaching the registered leave and licence agreement, proof of ownership and expired agreement, and any notice sent to the occupant. Under section 43 of the Act, the occupant must file a reply within 30 days of receiving a summons. If the occupant is not allowed to contest, the DCP can order eviction.
The law also provides for financial relief: under section 24(2), an occupant who stays after the agreement ends may be ordered to pay double the monthly licence fee until the flat is vacated. The notification was used recently in Santa Cruz East, where a DCP ordered eviction after a 36-month agreement expired.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The notification shifts a significant burden from civil courts to police authorities for a specific category of rental disputes, potentially speeding up evictions for landlords with registered leave and licence agreements. However, it does not cover standard tenancy disputes, so many landlords will still face court proceedings. The 30-day reply window and the possibility of the occupant being allowed to contest mean the process is not automatic. The key test will be how consistently DCPs apply the law and whether the notification leads to a backlog at police commissionerates.
The double-licence-fee provision acts as a financial deterrent for overstaying occupants, but enforcement depends on the occupant's ability to pay.
Source: tv9hindi.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
