In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Section 13-B of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, as extended to the Union Territory of Chandigarh via notification under the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966. The Court rejected challenges based on excessive delegation and separation of powers, holding that once Parliament establishes a clear policy for extending laws, the executive may validly extend future amendments. The Court also rejected claims that Section 13-B arbitrarily discriminates against Non-Resident Indian (NRI) landlords by restricting eviction rights. The classification serves the legitimate objective of enabling NRIs to occupy their properties upon returning to India, and adequate statutory remedies protect tenant interests. Nine appeals by tenants seeking to invalidate the section were dismissed.
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