JAMMU: For the security and safety of citizens, once again the order of District Magistrate, Jammu directing owners of paying guests, jhuggies as well as rental properties to ensure verification of tenants without failure within 3- day is in public domain.
The order speaks of action under section 188 IPC against offenders for their failure to submit mandatory tenant details to concerned police station. Earlier, such an order was also issued in the month of October, 2022 and this exercise keeps on hogging the limelight every year as a matter of routine affair.
Ironically, though the district administration on the advice of district police is issuing such a circular, however there seems to be no serious takers of the same as the data lying with several Police stations itself speaks volumes about the absence of much required attention by the concerned, said reliable police sources.
For the past several years, the administration is issuing such circulars but the abysmal response of tenant verification shows that neither the public nor the police authorities are serious on a matter where the laxity has the potential to play havoc with life of citizens as well as security of the nation.
As per reliable sources in Police, the landlords are deliberately defying compliance of DC Jammu order on tenant verification whereas strangely the SHOs prefer to sit silent on initiating action against the erring house holders and PG owners under relevant provision of law. Even the app launched in Nov 2021 for hassle free verification of tenant of landlords has failed to get the desired results, added sources.
It is mandatory for landlords to secure police verification for their tenants before renting out a property, said Rajinder Sharma adding that in Bagh e Bahu Police and Bahu Fort jurisdiction several outsiders with criminal antecedents are residing as tenants and involved in anti-social activities with impunity.
The order No DMJ/LO/PS/2022-23/3247-60 dated 10/01/23 issued on the request of SSP, Jammu states “It is necessary that some measures be taken to make landlords/property owners accountable before renting out/making available their premises to tenants/domestic help”.
Further the order reads, “All landlord(s), owner(s) of properties, attorney holder(s), person(s) incharge of properties in any capacity (hereafter called as owners) located in entire jurisdiction of the District to submit without fail the detail particulars of the tenant(s) to the concerned police station, either in person or by registered post addressed to the concerned SHO, within three days of the issuance of this notice”.
Owners who have already let/sub-let/rented out their house(s) or part(s) thereof to any tenant(s) on any date prior to the issuance of current order, shall submit the detailed particulars of the tenant(s) with immediate effect, reads the order.
“It is clarified that all arrangements of letting or sub-letting the property like PG, tenants etc., shall be covered by this order,” the DC Jammu ordered adding “Owners who have allowed jhuggies in their lands shall also be required to disclose the details”.
Demanding its compliance, the order states “Any violation of the mandatory tenant verification will attracts punishment under Section 188 of the IPC”.
Commenting on the plight of order issued by DM Jammu on several ocassion, a concerned citizen said “Several awareness campaigns have been undertaken, but landlords have not yet understood the significance of tenant verification. It is a must especially in the Jammu which is high on the target of terror outfits”.
In several areas of Jammu city especially Rajeev Nagar, Narwal, Kunjwani, Greater Kailash, Baribrahmna, Gangyal, Qasim Nagar, Rehari Colony, Gujjar Nagar, Bhathindi, Sunjawan, Trikuta Nagar, etc hundreds of tenants are residing sans verification among whom several have credentials of doubtful integrity and are involved in drug trafficking and anti social activities including prostitution and gambling. But, the tenant verification data available in Police stations of the aforesaid areas is not up to the mark as mandated by the DMs order.
After the issuance of the DM order, it is the job of concerned SHOs to conduct thorough checking of the violators of law pertaining to tenant verification and book the defaulters, who are dime a dozen, avers Prof. S.K.Bhalla while interacting with JK Global News.
This exercise is in operation for the last several years but the police department is blank on the huge number of defaulters which raises a serious question mark on their modus operandi as our UT is constantly under the threat of Pakistan sponsored terrorism besides drug mafias, criminals and over ground workers of terrorists who have been using various localities especially Rajeev Nagar, Sidhara, Bhathindi, Qasim Nagar, Greater Kailash, Chowadhi, Sunjwan etc as their safe haven. The police needs to act in all sincerity and honesty of purpose to deliver on the issue tenant verification as data till date paints them in a bad light, further said Prof. Bhalla.
Repeated attempts to contact SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli didn’t materialise.