District office of Guthi Sansthan, Lalipur had in the fiscal year 2010/11 issued directives to clear the due amount by the end of the fiscal year. After its attempt to make the tenants pay the rental due was unsuccessful, it had decided to evict the tenants with the support of the local administration. Though it has already been three years since the Guthi Sansthan made plans to evict the errant tenants, it could not materialize this plan as the Sansthan officials feared resorting to force against the locals.

The records at Guthi Sansthan’s Patan branch office show that there are around 56 commercial shutters at Mangal Bazaar, Chhaugal, Sundari Chowk and Chhaya Bahal which was constructed by the Guthi Sansthan in the 1960s. The locals of these areas have been renting the shutters since 1966 for less than Rs 40 per month and this monthly rental rate has not been revised till date.

According to Guthi Sansthan, most of these tenants have not paid even a single rupee as rent for the last five decades. When the minimum rental price for a one-room shop in Mangal Bazaar is more than Rs 20,000 these days, the locals have been disobeying to abide by the orders of authorities to pay even such a meagre amount for years.

“Only some of the tenants agreed to pay the rent that was due after we frequently requested them to do so. However, many have been turning a deaf ear to our repeated pleas,” said Hari Prasad Subedi, chief of the Guthi Sansthan. One of the reasons why the tenants are not willing to pay the rents despite Guthi’s repeated requests, according to Subedi, is because the people have come to take these shutters as public property and think it should not cost a penny.

As the locals have been illegally occupying the property for years, Guthi Sansthan has failed to renovate the shutters for a long time now. “Some of the shutters have already been demolished or are in dilapidated condition due to lack of timely renovation,” said Subedi, adding that a number of dharmashalas, patis and pauwas (free resthouses) of historical and cultural importance all over Lalitpur are also in terrible state and need to be renovated by evicting those who are illegally occupying them.

Also, as most people illegally occupying these places are locals, it has been very difficult for Guthi Sansthan to evict them. The Sansthan has from time to time been requesting the local authorities to at least collect rents. However, these requests have also fallen on deaf ears.

According to Guthi Sansthan Act 1976, the Sansthan has the right to increase the rent given due passage of time and seek help from local administration.