February 12: Rattled by the row over the Rent Control Act, the Sena-BJP government is all set to replace the age-old Act by a comprehensive new legislation well before March 31, the deadline set by the Supreme Court.``I think it shouldn't be difficult for us to bring in the new Act before March 31, the day the Bombay Rent Control Act expires,'' Housing Minister Sureshdada Jain said.Jain informed that the joint select committee set up to ascertain views of landlords as well as tenants will meet on March 5, 6 and 7 to finalise its report on the proposed Rent Control Act. ``Nominees of tenants and landlords have already deposed before the committee, but it will be improper if I disclose their contentions,'' he observed.He said the bill to replace the Bombay Rent Control Act was introduced in both houses of the state legislature during Chhagan Bhujbal's tenure as Housing Minister in 1993. Subsequently, it was referred to the joint select committee to elicit views of various sections of society, since thethen Congress government had proposed an annual hike of five per cent in the standard rent, with retrospective effect from 1940.``Since the existing Act expires on March 31, we'll ensure it's replaced by the new Act before that,'' Jain said. ``We'll submit the report of the joint select committee, along with the revised bill, during the budget session of the state legislature starting from March 16. If all goes well, it shouldn't be difficult for us to get the bill passed in both houses and later obtain assent of the Governor and President of India as required under the Constitution,'' he added. When asked if the standard rent will be hiked, Jain said his government is committed to protect tenants' interests at any cost. At the same time, the new legislation will be drafted keeping in mind the Model Rent Control Act as recommended by the Centre and the spirit of the Supreme Court order, he pointed out. ``While the Model Rent Control Act emphasises revision of standard rent, the Supreme Court has observedthat the standard rent should be reasonable. While formulating the new legislation, we'll consider the aspect of standard rent,'' he remarked.Jain said the state cabinet has passed a resolution to protect interests of tenants, while Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray has threatened to lead a morcha to Mantralaya if the rent is hiked. ``The Sena-BJP government is duty-bound to honour the sentiments expressed by Thackeray,'' he added.Jain denied there was delay in filing a review petition before Supreme Court. ``While the verdict was pronounced on December 19, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi had on the next day informed both houses of the state legislature that the state government will file a review petition before the apex court. We filed the review petition immediately after we got the certified copy of the court order,'' Jain claimed.
