Clear dues, vacate by Thursday, JNU tells several canteen, dhaba owners

Press Trust of India

NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration has asked owners of several canteens and dhabas at the campus to clear dues amounting to lakhs of rupees and vacate the varsity premises by June 30, alleging that their shops were allocated “without following due tender procedure”.

In a notice to several canteen owners dated June 22, the varsity’s joint registrar (estate) MK Pachauri asked them to “clear all the outstanding dues against them within seven days of the issuance of the letter”.

The shop owners are fearful of losing their livelihoods and are also finding it difficult to arrange the money to pay the dues. They said that 10 canteens/ dhabas/xerox shops at the campus have been served these notices. The university said the person will be liable for eviction proceedings as per the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, if he fails to comply with the notice.

“....is hereby directed to clear the outstanding dues against him with seven days, from the date of issue of this letter. Failing which, the above direction the named hereunder liable for eviction proceedings as per Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act,” it said.

JNU rector Ajay Dubey clarified to PTI that the notices were served to shop owners who have not paid rent and power bills “for a long time”, adding that many shops were not allocated with due procedure. The letter says, a notice was also served in May 2019 to establishment owners, seeking a reply as to why the eviction proceeding should not be initiated against them.