The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Act details
| Short title | The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for the control of rents and evictions and of rates of hotels and lodging houses, and for the lease of vacant premises to Government, in certain areas in the Union territory of Delhi. |
| Act number | 59 of 1958 |
| Act year | 1958 |
| Enactment date | 31 Dec 1958 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 67 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 4 Nov 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
summary of Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958
Relevant Provisions & Implications from Provided Legal Texts
1. Urban Poor Housing Strategies: - Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board Bill, 2009: Aims to improve Jhuggi-Jhompri clusters and provide resettlement housing, indicating a policy focus on upgrading informal settlements.
• Provision for Slum Dwellers & Jhuggi-Jhompri Clusters: Emphasizes relocation, rehabilitation, and improvement of living conditions, reflecting a strategy to address urban poverty through housing.
2. Dealing with the Informal Sector (e.g., Street Vendors, Unauthorised Colonies):
• National Policy for Urban Street Vendors & Master Plan for Delhi, 2021: Suggests a structured approach to regulating street vendors, potentially including designated vending zones.
• Regularisation of Unauthorised Colonies: Guidelines for scrutiny, approval of layout plans, and fixation of boundaries imply a methodical approach to legitimizing informal settlements under certain conditions.
3. Legislative Support for Transitional Periods: - The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2009: Provides temporary relief, minimizing hardships during the implementation of new housing and vendor regulation policies.
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958
Act Title - The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958
Act Number / Year - 59 of 1958
Act ID (India Code) - 195859
Presidential Assent Date: December 31, 1958
Enforcement Date - February 9, 1959
Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Precedent & Historical Rationale
● Tenant Protection and Rent Regulation: Enacted to regulate rents and protect tenants in urban areas of Delhi against arbitrary and unreasonable rent increases during post-independence urban expansion.
● Orderly Eviction and Recovery Mechanism: Formulated to curb unlawful summary evictions by laying down statutory grounds under which landlords may recover possession, such as bona fide personal necessity or non-payment of rent.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
● Formulation: Introduced to establish a permanent and comprehensive statutory framework for rent control in the Union Territory of Delhi.
● Parliamentary Passage: Debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Second Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) in December 1958.
● Presidential Assent: Received Presidential Assent on December 31, 1958.
● Enforcement: Enforced on February 9, 1959
Source: Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.