Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) has rejected the representation of Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) against the order of the Ombudsman Punjab regarding payment of house rent to a complainant.
He has also directed Tevta to implement the order of the Ombudsman by January 31, 2004.
A complainant, Mst Azra Akram, had filed a complaint before the Punjab ombudsman stating therein that she rented out her property at Baloch Colony, Battike Road, Wazirabad, to the Government Commercial Training Institute, in 1987.
The lease agreement was renewed from time to time on enhanced rent after extension in the building, finally in 1996, after further extension in the building at the request of the principal of the Institute, the rent deed dated 14.12.1996 was executed with the condition that the building would remain on rent with the Institute for seven-year viz 1.7.1996 to 30.6.2003.
However, the principal violated the agreement and vacated the building on 21.3.2003 without any justification.
The ombudsman while determining the matter to be a case of mal-administration, directed the Agency (Tevta) to settle the claim within one month.
Tevta preferred the representation before the governor Punjab under Section 32 of the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab Act 1997.
While deciding the case the governor observed: "Once the principal had agree to take on lease the premises with the approval of the Directorate of Technical Education for a period of six years, construction of a hall for computer classes or provision of additional facilities which were not an integral part of the original lease agreement would be considered as an additional demand for which fresh terms and conditions were supposed to be settled with mutual consent.
Otherwise, the express provisions of the lease agreement are sacrosanct and should be followed.
Violation of contractual obligation by a government agency is mal-administration in terms of section 9(2) of the Punjab Office of the Ombudsman Act, 197.
The Ombudsman's order does not suffer from any legal infirmity and I do not find any reason to interfere with the same.
Tevta is liable to pay rent to Mrs Azra Akram for the period March 21, 2002 to June 30, 2003 @ Rs 6,650 per month for the remaining lease period.
In view of the foregoing, the representation filed by Tevta is rejected, being devoid of merit and the order of the Provincial Ombudsman Punjab dated 28.6.2003 is upheld.
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