Eviction of Occupants from Property Purchased in 2017
I seek legal guidance regarding a property I purchased in 2017 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The land has six shops constructed on it, which were already in occupation by tenants at the time of purchase. There are a total of 6 tenants; Tenant 1: The previous owner had executed an agreement with in 1990 for a period of 5 years with this tenant, thereafter, the owner had instituted a suit for eviction in 1993 which was pursued by the owner till 2007 and thereafter, he died and his sons did not pursue the case and it got dismissed due to non-prosecution. The tenant used all tactics to keep the suit delayed. In the case, he never denied the tenancy and was paying rent till 2012. Ever since I became the owner, I have had no contact with this tenant and they are still using the shop commercially. Tenant 2: The shop has been vacated. These tenants have left on their own and the shutter of the shop is always closed. I don’t know the name and address of the tenant since I don’t have any documents related to them. Tenant 3: The previous owner executed a notarized agreement with them in 2015 till 2018. This tenant was paying rent to the previous owner, and after I became owner in 2017, he paid rent just once by cheque which I encashed, thereafter, no rent. He’s also currently using the shop. I have not contacted him ever before. Tenant 4: The previous owner executed an unregistered agreement with them in December 2004 which expired in December 2009. The previous owner instituted a suit for their eviction in 2012, which they did not pursue and that also got dismissed for non-prosecution in 2015. I have not contacted them once. Tenant 5: Exact same situation as tenant 3. Tenant 6: Agreement for four years since 1992. His case is also as tenant 1. My situation is that I purchased the land in 2017 but did not ask them to vacate the shop neither did I establish any legal relationship with them either through agreement or through implication. Anyhow, there exists no rental agreement in place right now and all of them are occupying the shops without any authority. I have been paying the municipal taxes (house tax and water tax) for the property. They each have commercial electricity connections in their shops under their names. I want to evict all of them and collect all dues, whether it is pending rent or municipal charges along with damages if possible. I have a doubt on whether it can be called a tenancy, or they are unauthorized occupants, trespassers, tenants-at-sufferance, licensees. Mistakes on my end: Not doing anything about it from 2017 to 2025; Accepting the cheque and encashing it (although I issued no receipt accepting it as rent); Not informing them of the change of ownership in writing (although I had them informed orally). Thank you
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