Rent reform

As a practising lawyer, I have seen contentious cases where tenants claim to have purchased the property during rent disputes. Courts usually rule in favour of vacating the premises until the civil suit regarding the purchase is resolved. But when a tenant comes forward with a defence claiming ownership of the rented property, the whole landscape of the case shifts. The rent controller’s hands are tied and this claim cannot be resolved during the pending rent matter. To clear this logjam, an amendment is necessary to empower the rent controller to hear and decide on the purchase defence.

If granted the necessary legal teeth, the rent controller can cut to the chase and settle this civil dispute. Unfortunately, civil matters often drag on, leaving genuine purchasers in limbo while wrongdoers continue to occupy the property. To address this, The Sindh Rented Premises Ordinance, 1979, should be amended to ensure expedited trials without unnecessary adjournments, disposal of cases within a short period, hefty fines for false claims of purchase equivalent to the property’s total value. Such reforms would deter frivolous claims and ensure that justice is served in a timely manner.

Advocate Riaz Ali Panhwar

Hyderabad