New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) In a significant verdict that may help public sector undertakings (PSUs) reclaim their properties, the Supreme Court held on Thursday that the 1971 Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act prevails over state rent control laws.

A three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria ruled that the provisions of the PP Act apply retrospectively, meaning tenants who have occupied premises belonging to government corporations like the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), other insurance companies and nationalised banks even prior to 1958 or 1971 can be evicted under the central law.

The bench was dealing with two conflicting judgments on the aspect of overriding applicability of the PP Act as against state rent control laws.

A two-jud

See Full Page