Public Premises Act Overrides State Rent Control Laws; Unauthorised Occupants Cannot Claim Protection — Supreme Court

The article reports a Supreme Court ruling clarifying that the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, overrides inconsistent provisions in state rent control laws, and unauthorised occupants of public premises cannot claim protection under rent control statutes. The Court overruled a 2014 judgment that had allowed rent control protection for unauthorised occupants of government premises on the basis of de facto possession. The Supreme Court held that public premises have a distinct legislative regime prioritising eviction of unauthorised occupants and that allowing rent control protection would defeat the clear purpose of the Public Premises Act. The decision reinforces the primacy of central legislation in regulating public property, prevents misuse of rent control protections in government premises, and provides clear guidance for eviction proceedings involving government or public sector properties nationwide.