Section Text
(1) Whenever the municipal council considers the interior of a building is so overcrowded as to be or to be likely to become dangerous or prejudicial to the health of the inhabitants of that or of any neighbouring building the municipal council may cause proceedings to be taken before a magistrate of the first class for the purpose of obtaining an order to prevent such overcrowding.
(2) Such magistrate may on the production of a certificate by a Medical Officer or Health Officer stating his opinion that the overcrowding complained of is likely to cause disease or risk or risk of disease, and after such further enquiry, if any, as may appear to such magistrate necessary, require the owner of the building within a reasonable time, not being more than six weeks or less than ten days, to abate the number of lodgers, tenants or other inmates of the said building to such extent as he shall deem necessary to prescribe, or any pass such other order as he may deem just and proper.
(3) If the said building shall have been sublet, the landlord of the lodgers, tenants or other actual inmates of the same shall, for the purpose of this sub-section, be deemed to be the owner of the building.
(4) It shall be incumbent on any owner to whom a requisition is issued under sub-section (2), forthwith to give to so many of the lodgers, tenants or other actual inmates of the said building as may be necessary to fulfil the conditions prescribed thereby, written notice to vacate the said building within the period specified in such requisition and any such lodgers, tenants or inmates receiving such notice shall notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, be bound to comply therewith.
(5) Any owner who, after the date specified in any requisition issued under sub-section (2), permits the overcrowding of any building in contravention of such requisition, and any person who omits to vacate any such building in accordance with notice given to him under sub-section (4), shall be punished with fine which may extend to ten rupees for each day subsequent to the date specified in such requisition during which such overcrowding, or such omission to vacate, continues.