Assam govt introduces Assam Tenancy Bill 2021

The Assam government introduced a bill to protect the interests of both landlords and tenants and to provide a quick dispute resolution mechanism. The Assam Tenancy Bill, 2021, introduced by Pijush Hazarika, Parliamentary Affairs Minister on behalf of the Ashok Singhal, Housing and Urban Development Minister, seeks to ensure that there will be no artificial cap for premise rent fixing. The rent shall be market-driven and as determined by a mutual agreement between the landlord and the tenant. According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, the agreement between the tenant and the landlord shall be the main basis of the Assam Tenancy Bill, 2021, which shall be binding on both the tenant and the landlord. Through the bill, the landlord-tenant disputes redressing procedure has been simplified and made faster by setting up a rent authority, rent court, and rent appellate at the district level. The eviction of tenants in situations of non-payment of rent or non-fulfillment of conditions of agreement has also been simplified to eliminate the concern of the landlord losing rights to his property. The bill also clearly defines each party's duties and obligations on the maintenance and upkeep of the premises. The bill provisions will not apply to certain premises, including religious or charitable organisations, those owned or promoted by the government, and Waqf authorities. The new bill has been formed based on the Model Tenancy Act, which was approved by the cabinet on 2 June 2021, for adoption across all states and Union Territories. The Assam Urban Areas Rent Control Act, 1972, will stand repealed with the enactment of this new bill. On account of the bill, there will be no financial burden on the state exchequer. Image Source Also read: Model Tenancy Act to make an effective rental market place in India Also read: Model Tenancy Act: Karnataka to implement act soon