Section 14C of Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 - Immediate Possession for Central Government and Delhi Administration Employees

Section 14C creates a special, time-bound right for specified government employees who are landlords to seek immediate possession of a let-out premises when it is required for their own residence.

Current legal source: The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 is Central Act No. 59 of 1958. Section 14C was inserted by the Delhi Rent Control (Amendment) Act, 1988 and came into force on 1 December 1988. For the official consolidated text, see India Code - Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958.

What Section 14C provides

The provision applies to a landlord who is a retired employee of the Central Government or the Delhi Administration, or an employee approaching retirement, subject to the statutory conditions. The premises must have been let out by the landlord and must be required for the landlord's own residence.

Text of Section 14C

14C. Right to recover immediate possession of premises to accrue to Central Government and Delhi Administration employees.

(1) Where the landlord is a retired employee of the Central Government or of the Delhi Administration, and the premises let out by him are required for his own residence, such employee may, within one year from the date of his retirement or within a period of one year from the date of commencement of the Delhi Rent Control (Amendment) Act, 1988, whichever is later, apply to the Controller for recovering the immediate possession of such premises.

(2) Where the landlord is an employee of the Central Government or of the Delhi Administration and has a period of less than one year preceding the date of his retirement and the premises let out by him are required by him for his own residence after his retirement, he may, at any time within a period of one year before the date of his retirement, apply to the Controller for recovering the immediate possession of such premises.

(3) Where the landlord referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) has let out more than one premises, it shall be open to him to make an application under that sub-section in respect of only one of the premises chosen by him.

Meaning and conditions of Section 14C

1. Retired Central Government or Delhi Administration employee

Under sub-section (1), a retired employee may invoke the special remedy where the let-out premises are required for his own residence. The application is subject to the one-year statutory filing period stated in the provision.

2. Employee nearing retirement

Sub-section (2) permits an eligible serving employee who has less than one year remaining before retirement to apply during the one-year period preceding retirement, provided the premises are required for his own residence after retirement.

3. Choice limited to one premises

If the eligible landlord has let out more than one premises, sub-section (3) allows the Section 14C application in respect of only one premises selected by the landlord.

Important practical points

The applicant must fall within the employee or retired-employee category specified in Section 14C.
The premises must be required for the landlord's own residence.
The statutory time limit connected with retirement must be observed.
Where more than one premises has been let out, the special remedy can be exercised for only one chosen premises.
Section 14C should be read with the procedural provisions of the Delhi Rent Control Act governing applications for recovery of possession.

Official legal resource

The official text of the Act can be checked on India Code. Users should verify the current statutory text and applicable judicial decisions before relying on the provision in a particular proceeding.

This page provides general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on the facts of an individual case.