Chandigarh, Nov. 21 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed a shopkeeper in Sector 15 to pay Rs.1.75 lakh rent for the shop occupied by him against Rs.450 being paid so far.

"Real estate prices as well as rents have soared to new heights. No doubt the court has to balance the equities. Where one hand, a landlord should not be denied his due, a tenant should also not be burdened with extraordinary rents which may ultimately force him to vacate the premises," the bench of justice Vikram Aggarwal observed while asking the shopkeeper to deposit entire amount with the rent controller, Chandigarh, within three weeks.

The shopkeeper has been occupying the shop since 1967 for a rent of Rs.450 per month.

Acting on the eviction proceed...