Pune: Lack of Bailiffs Delays Property Possession Despite Rent Control Court Orders

Pune, 17th April 2026: Even after securing favourable court judgments, at least 50 property owners in Pune are facing prolonged delays in obtaining possession of their premises, as the rent control court has been functioning without bailiffs for the past nine months.

Citizens approaching the competent authority under the rent control law said that while judgments are being delivered, their implementation has come to a standstill due to the absence of court-appointed bailiffs responsible for executing orders.

More than 350 cases involving disputes between landlords and tenants are currently pending before the court. Earlier, two bailiffs were appointed to carry out enforcement of court orders. However, both were suspended in June last year after being caught accepting bribes. Since then, the posts have remained vacant, halting the execution process.

The court had sought permission from the state government around nine months ago to fill these vacancies. Recently, approval has been granted to appoint contractual staff. However, officials indicated that it may take another two to three months before new personnel are recruited and begin work.

The court’s jurisdiction extends across five districts, adding to the workload. At present, over 50 cases have reached final judgment, but property owners are yet to receive possession due to the lack of enforcement staff. Bailiffs play a crucial role in coordinating with the police to ensure possession is handed over, a process that is currently stalled.

In the absence of bailiffs, citizens are being forced to approach magistrate courts as an alternative. This route, however, is both time-consuming and expensive, involving additional legal fees and procedural delays.

Dhananjay Lele, a resident, said his family secured a favourable court order in November 2025 for a property owned by his mother. “It has been five months since the judgment, but we are still waiting to get possession. The only reason is that there are no bailiffs. How are we responsible for this delay?” he said.

With court orders remaining unimplemented, many citizens are questioning whether justice delivered on paper will translate into actual relief.