The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule seeking explanation as to why guidelines for determining house rents in all city corporations including Dhaka have not been formulated.

A High Court bench headed by Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Razi issued the rule after primary hearing of a writ petition in this regard.

The authorities of Dhaka North and South City Corporations along with other relevant officials, have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.

Advocate Parvez Hossain represented the petitioner during the hearing.

Imtiaz Uddin, a resident of Azimpur area in Dhaka, filed the writ petition seeking a directive to formulate guidelines for fixing house rents.

Earlier, on November 27, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Ejaz said the City Corporation would determine rents based on the location and services of houses in Dhaka city and prepare a list accordingly.

“Although the House Rent Control Act was enacted in 1991 many provisions of the law are not being followed. We will prepare guidelines for tenants and landlords according to the law which we aim to complete by the first half of December,” the DNCC administrator said.

The writ petition also sought directives for the prompt implementation of the 1991 law on house rent as well as instructions to provide houses by collecting one month’s rent in advance as a security deposit.