Overcrowding of dwelling houses

Section 143 of the Cantonments Act, 2006 deals with overcrowding of dwelling houses. Where it appears to a Board that any building or part of a building in the cantonment which is used as a dwelling house is so overcrowded as to endanger the health of the inmates thereof, it may, after such inquiry as it thinks fit, by notice in writing require the owner or occupier of the building The Act came into force on 18 Dec 2006.

(1) Where it appears to a Board that any building or part of a building in the cantonment which is used as a dwelling house is so overcrowded as to endanger the health of the inmates thereof, it may, after such inquiry as it thinks fit, by notice in writing require the owner or occupier of the building or part thereof, as the case may be, within such time not being less than one month as may be specified in the notice, to abate the overcrowding of the same by reducing the number of lodgers, tenants, or other inmates to such number as may be specified in the notice.

(2) Any person who fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with a requisition made upon him under sub-section (1) shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand five hundred rupees, and, in the case of a continuing offence, to an additional fine which may extend to two hundred fifty rupees for everyday after the first during which the failure has continued.

Section 143, The Cantonments Act, 2006 (Act 41 of 2006).