HC dismisses pleas filed against re-fixation of rent by Corpn

The Madras High court today dismissed a batch of petitions, including by Latha Rajinikanth, wife of actor Rajinikanth, against refixing of rent of shops by the Chennai Municipal Corporation.
Justice S Vaidyanathan dismissed the petitions after accepting the contention of the counsel for the corporation that the Supreme Court had already dismissed such petitions filed against the refixing of the rent.
Mohan Menon, authorised signatory for Latha Rajinikanth, challenged the June 23 order of the corporation increasing rent of his shop in the city, where a travel agency was running for the past more than 25 years from Rs 3,702 to Rs 21,160.

Menon submitted that though the land may be valuable, the building's value depreciated over the years. The corporation was not even maintaining the building and its occupants were spending huge amount for it.
He also claimed that the basic principle enunciated in the Rent Control Act for fixing a fair rent was not followed.
The counsel for the corporation submitted that according to a government order, the corporation has to revise the rent once every nine years. Moreover, the apex could had also dismissed petitions challenging the hike, he contended.
Accepting his arguments, the judge dismissed the petitions.