After National Herald building, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) has cancelled the land lease of “Link House” (also known as Patriot House) at Bahadur Shah Zafar (BSZ) Marg occupied by United India Periodicals Private Limited (UIPPL).
Top sources in the HUA said that Land and Development Department of the HUA Ministry has issued notice for cancellation of land lease after the occupant found violating land lease conditions. The violations are identical in most of the buildings on BSZ Marg. If the premises were not used for printing press, it is amount to the misuse of the allotted land and the Land and Development Department has the right to take it back.
This is the second building on the BSZ Marg which faces eviction notice by the HUA Ministry after the Herald building. UIPPL was the publisher of daily newspaper known as “Patriot” and Link magazine. The printing and distribution of daily newspaper and magazine was stopped in June, 1996 due to lock-out in the company on account of recurring losses.
According to HUA, UIPPL was allotted 0.50 acre plot at BSZ Marg (plot number 3) for the construction of a building for bonafide purpose of press in 1959.
“At that time, Aruna Asaf Ali was the Director of the UIPPL and the premises “Patriot House” was known as “Link House”. In 1961, the allottee was allowed to use 2/3rd of total built up area for general office use, commercial or otherwise. This was subject to condition that 1/3rd of the total built up area will be used for press. Subsequently, the Perpetual Lease in respect of the above allotment was signed on 04.08.1962,” the HUA Ministry’s note said.
“Further, inspections of the premises revealed a large number of misuses as well as unauthorised construction on leased land. Though the inspection reports mention usage of basement as store as well as currency chest of Central Bank of India, these reports do no talk about existence of any working printing press. On the basis of complaints received regarding misuse of the leased property, a three member committee inspected the premises on February 23, 2018 and found that no portion of the building is being used as a Press by the Lessee,” it said.
Accordingly, a show cause notice was issued on April 4, 2018 to UIPPL why eviction process should not be taken against them for violation of the lease conditions.
Sources said that the reply received from UIPPL has been examined and it has been observed that the very purpose of allotment of land which was meant for functioning of press has been defeated as one of the important terms/conditions of lease agreement viz. utilisation of one/third portion of the premises for the purpose of the Press has been found violated. Further, the unauthorised construction which has been noticed during the last inspection, is also a violation of lease deed.