Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971

7. Power to require payment of rent or damages in respect of public premises.-

(1) Where any person is in arrears of rent payable in respect of any public premises, the estate officer may, by order, require that person to pay the same within such time and in such installments as may be specified in the order.

(2) Where any person is, or has at any time been, in unauthorized occupation of any public premises, the estate officer may, having regard to such principles of assessment of damages as may be prescribed, assess the damages on account of the use and occupation of such premises and may, by order, require that person to pay the damages within such time and in such installments as may be specified in the order.

(2A) While making an order under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), the estate officer may direct that the arrears of rent or, as the case may be, damages shall be payable together with sample interest at such rate as may be prescribed, not being a rate exceeding the current rate of interest within the meaning of the Interest Act, 1978.]

(3) No order under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be made against any person until after the issue of notice in writing to the person calling upon him to show cause within such time as may be specified in the notice, why such order should both be made, and until his objections, if any, and any evidence he may produce in support of the same, have been considered by the estate officer.