• The Delhi Rent (Repeal) Bill, 2013 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 29, 2013 by the Minister of Urban Development, Mr. Kamal Nath.

• The Bill seeks to repeal the Delhi Rent Act, 1995.  Although the Act was passed by parliament and received the assent of the President in 1995, it could not be brought into force and has not been notified till date.

• The Act sought to regulate rents, repairs of premises that are rented, eviction of tenants and rates of hotels and lodging houses in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

• Subsequently, it was decided to bring the Act into force after making amendments to it.  The Delhi Rent (Amendment) Bill, 1997 was introduced in Parliament but could not be passed because of the dissolution of the 11th Lok Sabha.   

• The Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958, as amended from time to time is, thus still in force.  It regulates the rental housing market, the eviction of tenants, obligations of landlords regarding maintenance and the recovery of possession by landlords in specific circumstances in the NCT of Delhi.   

• In March 2012, in a meeting between the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Ministry of Urban Development it was decided to draft a new Bill to be placed in the public domain for discussions. 

• It was thus decided to repeal the Delhi Rent Act, 1995 and introduce the Delhi Rent (Repeal) Bill, 2013.

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