DC Komal Mittal issues district-wide directions under BNSS; landlords and households must share particulars with the nearest police station, including details of existing occupants not yet registered**
Mohali, October 30: In an important public-safety measure, the Mohali district administration has made it compulsory for residents to submit details of their tenants, domestic helpers and paying guests to the nearest police station within seven days of their engagement or accommodation. The directive is aimed at strengthening police verification, improving local security and helping law-enforcement agencies maintain an updated record of people living in rented premises across Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district.
Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal, exercising powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, has issued prohibitory orders requiring residents and property owners to provide complete particulars of tenants, domestic servants and paying guests to the police within the stipulated period.
The directions apply across the district, covering areas under municipal councils, nagar panchayats and village panchayats. Importantly, the responsibility is not limited to people entering into new rental arrangements. Landlords and residents who have already rented out their properties, employed domestic workers or accommodated paying guests must also submit their details if they have not completed the required police intimation earlier.
### Seven-day deadline for submitting particulars
Under the order, residents must ensure that the relevant information reaches the nearest police station within one week of a tenant moving in, a domestic helper being engaged or a paying guest being accommodated. The administration has stressed the need for complete particulars so that police authorities can maintain proper records and undertake verification wherever required.
The measure places an important responsibility on landlords and householders. Merely entering into a rental agreement or employing a domestic worker should not be treated as a substitute for complying with the police reporting requirement.
Growing population movement puts verification in focus
Explaining the need for the directive, the district administration has pointed to the steady movement of people into Mohali from other states and districts for employment, education, business and professional activities.
Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar has emerged as an important centre for educational institutions, commercial establishments, offices, call centres and other employment opportunities. Students, trainees, professionals, workers and businesspersons from different parts of the country regularly arrive in the district. Many live in rented accommodation, while others stay as paying guests or work in private households as domestic helpers.
With this continuous movement of people, the administration believes that a systematic record of occupants and workers is important for effective policing and the prevention of possible security-related incidents.
The order also refers to concerns that some individuals may have links to drug-related activities or criminal and anti-social elements. These observations form part of the administration’s stated rationale for the verification exercise; they should not be interpreted as suggesting that people coming from outside the district or living in rented accommodation are inherently involved in unlawful activities.
Why the order matters for residents and the police
The requirement is significant not only for law-enforcement agencies but also for ordinary residents, housing societies and property owners. Maintaining updated tenant and domestic-worker records can help police establish identities, verify residential particulars and respond more effectively when a security-related incident is reported.
For residents, the exercise can contribute to safer neighbourhoods by encouraging responsible rental practices and greater awareness of who is occupying nearby premises. For landlords, it provides a clear reminder that tenant-related responsibilities extend beyond collecting rent and maintaining property agreements.
For the police and district administration, accurate information can strengthen local intelligence, assist investigations and help identify individuals when a law-and-order concern arises. It can also improve coordination between residents and police stations, particularly in areas experiencing rapid urbanisation and population growth.
Existing tenants and domestic workers also covered
One of the most important aspects of the directive is that it covers existing arrangements as well. Residents who have already rented out houses or flats, engaged domestic helpers or allowed paying guests to stay must check whether their details have been submitted to the police. If not, they are required to complete the process within the prescribed period.
The administration’s message is clear: police verification should not be postponed until a problem occurs. Timely disclosure of relevant details is intended to make preventive policing more effective and reduce avoidable gaps in local security records.
Orders effective until December 28
The prohibitory orders have come into force from October 29, 2026, and will remain effective until December 28, 2026.
The district administration expects residents, landlords and households to cooperate with the police and comply within the seven-day deadline. The success of the measure will depend not merely on the issuance of an official order but also on public awareness and responsible participation.
As Mohali continues to attract students, professionals, workers and businesses from across the country, maintaining safe and well-monitored residential neighbourhoods has become an important shared responsibility. Timely tenant and domestic-worker verification can help the administration and police strengthen public safety, while giving residents a more accountable and secure neighbourhood environment.
