660 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
(b) What are the grounds for fixing the rents lower than the prewar rental value as assessed by the New Delhi Municipal Committee in 1938-39 ?
(c) How do Government justify the levy of house-tax at an excessive rate for all these years ?
(d) If the assessment was not excessive, how do Government justify the order of the Rent Controller ?
(e) Is he aware that the house-owners in this area are mostly middle class people who have been hit hard by this arbitrary decision of the Rent Controller ?
(f) What rents are fixed by the Rent Controller for houses having approximately a similar residential accommodation near the Pusa Road in Qarol bagh Area, and in any other composite area in New Delhi ?
(g) Is he aware that while controlling rents of houses in Calcutta, the Bengal Government have allowed an increase of ten per cent. in rents over the rents prevailing in 1941 ?
(h) Does he propose to allow a similar increase in rents in New Delhi ? If not, why ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) (i). There are several different classes of tenements in the Babar Road Area carrying different rents. The rent of Rs. 42-8-0 is for one class tenements only.
(ii) Yes.
(b) The rents are fixed under clause 8 of the Delhi House Rent Control Order, 1939, under which the Rent Contoller has to fix the fair rent of a house having regard to the prevailing rates of rents for the same or similar accommodation in similar circumstances during the twelve months prior to the 1st September, 1939.
(c) This is not a matter for Government.
(d) In view of the reply to part (b) above, the question does not arise.
(e) Yes, but Government have no reason to believe that the house-owners have been hit hard.
(f) There are no houses in Qarol bagh having the same or similar accommodation.
(g) I have no official information on the point.
(h) No, Government do not see any justification for it.
Sardar Sant Singh : Will the Honourable Member make inquiries as to the difference in rental value assessed by the New Delhi Municipal