Chapter IV OBLIGATION OF LANDLORDS AND TENANTS

14.

1. (1) Every tenant shall pay rent and other charges payable within the stipulated period as in the agreement between the landlord and the tenant and in the absence of such stipulation by the 10th day of the month next following the month for which it is payable and where any default occurs in the payment of rent or other charges, the tenant shall be liable to pay simple interest at such rate as may be specified from time to time on the date on which such payment of rent and other charges payable is due to the date on which it is paid.
2. (2) Every tenant who makes payment of rent or other charges payable or advance towards such rent or other charges to his landlord, shall be entitled, against acknowledgement, to obtain forthwith from the landlord or his authorized agent a written receipt for the amount paid to him, signed by the landlord or his authorized agent.

15. (1)

1. (a) Where the landlord does not accept any rent and other charges payable or refuses to give a receipt, the rent and other charges shall be sent to the landlord by postal money order consecutively for two months, and if the landlord does not accept the rent and other charges within this period, then the tenant may deposit the same in the Rent Controlling Authority.
2. (b) Whenever there is bonafide doubt about the person or persons to whom the rent etc. is payable, the tenant may deposit such rent and other charges before the Rent Controlling Authority.

1. (2) On deposit of the rent, the Rent Controlling Authority shall investigate the case and pass an order based on facts of the case.
2. (3) The withdrawal of rent and other charges payable deposited under sub-section
3. (1) shall not operate as an admission against the person withdrawing it to the correctness of rent or any other fact stated by the tenant.
4. (4) Any rent and other charges not withdrawn for five years by any person entitled to withdraw shall be forfeited by the Government.

16.

1. (1) Subject to any contract in writing to the contrary, the landlord and the tenant shall be bound to keep the premises in as good a condition as at the commencement of the tenancy except for normal wear and tear and shall be responsible for the respective repairs as in Schedule II.
2. (2) If a tenant or a landlord fails to carry out the maintenance or required repairs

17.

1. (1) No landlord or tenant either by himself or through any person shall without just and sufficient cause, cut off or withhold any essential supply or service in the premises occupied by the tenant or the landlord.
2. (2) In case of contravention of provisions of sub-section
3. (1) and on application from the tenant or the landlord, as the case may be, the Rent Controlling Authority after examining the matter may pass an interim order directing the restoration of supply of essential services immediately pending the inquiry referred to in sub-section (3).
4. (3) The Rent Controlling Authority shall conduct an inquiry against the application made by the landlord or the tenant, as the case may be, and complete this inquiry within one month of filing of the application.
5. (4) The Rent Controlling Authority may also levy a penalty on the person responsible for cutting off or withholding the essential supply, which may extend upto five thousand rupees.
6. (5) The Rent Controlling Authority may direct that compensation be paid to the landlord or tenant if it finds that the application was made frivolously or vexatiously. Explanation., Essential services includes supply of water, electricity, lights in passages, lifts and on staircase, conservancy, parking, communication links and sanitary services.