Notice to 9 shopkeepers for holding on to rented shops

Chamba’s Lakshminarayan Temple Trust has issued notices to nine shopkeepers who have been holding on to rented shops but have kept them closed for a long time. The shopkeepers have been directed to either start utilising the shops within a month or vacate them. Failure to comply with the orders will result in a legal action against the defaulters.

The action came after the Trust president and Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal had directed temple officer Deekshit Rana and Chamba SDM Priyanshu Khati to take action against defaulters who have been occupying the trust’s properties without adhering to rental agreements.

The Lakshminarayan Temple Trust owns 54 shops across Dogra Bazar, Jansali, Kasakada, Mai Ka Bagh, Chhatrari and Saho in Chamba. These shops were rented out years ago, but no rent assessment has been conducted since then, resulting in tenants paying as little as Rs 5 to Rs 150 per month. Despite the low rents, several shopkeepers have either failed to make payments or have simply locked their shops without using them.

The trust also owns properties in Banaras, Uttar Pradesh, which includes a school, a commercial complex, and a guesthouse. Trust officials are communicating with authorities in Banaras to ensure proper management of these assets.

During a recent review, the trust found that an assessment was conducted in 2018-19, but only 10 shopkeepers were paying the revised rent, while the remaining 44 continued to pay the old rates. To rectify this, the trust has completed the rent assessment for 22 out of 54 shops and submitted the report to the Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department. The assessment for the remaining shops is also underway.

Meanwhile, a case has emerged in Kasakada Mohalla of Chamba town, where a shop owned by the Lakshminarayan Temple Trust was illegally sold by an individual. The temple officer has been instructed to issue a notice to the individual and seek an explanation.

Meanwhile, Mukesh Repswal told the local media that property assessments have started, with 22 shops already evaluated. Notices have been issued to shopkeepers who have kept their shops closed for years. He also confirmed that action is being taken against a person who illegally sold a shop belonging to the trust.