Dancer gets eviction stay

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court has stayed a lower court's eviction order against dancer Sonal Mansingh from the premises where she has been living as a tenant for nearly 35 years.
"The matter is remanded back to the trial court for disposal of the petitioner's (Sonal Mansingh) application on merits after giving an opportunity to the parties to produce necessary evidence in support of their respective pleas," Justice P K Bhasin said on Monday while staying the eviction order.
Mansingh, a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards, had challenged the order of the additional rent controller (ARC) asking her to vacate the ground floor of the house at Defence Colony where she has been a tenant since 1976. Her landlady had filed the eviction case, claiming she needed the house for her family.
The lower court had proceeded ex-parte and ordered her eviction following a report from the postman that the dancer had refused to accept the summon sent through post to appear and defend herself before the court.
Mansingh had approached the additional rent controller after a judicial staff visited the premises to ensure her eviction in pursuance of the trial court judgment. The plea was dismissed and later she moved HC.
Justice Bhasin allowed Mansingh's plea and asked the lower court to decide afresh her plea seeking the recall of the earlier order.