How do I evict a tenant in West Bengal under the Premises Tenancy Act?

• Rent default: tenant has defaulted in payment of rent for more than 3 months in a year
• Unauthorised subletting: tenant has sub-let or parted with possession without the landlord's written consent
• Misuse: premises used for a purpose other than what it was let for
• Genuine requirement: landlord (or a family member) genuinely requires the premises for personal occupation
• Redevelopment: premises required for construction, rebuilding, or alteration that cannot be carried out without the tenant vacating

Important restriction: if the landlord acquired the property through a purchase or other transfer, they cannot file an eviction suit on 'genuine requirement' grounds until one year has passed from the date of acquisition.

1. Serve a termination notice — at least one month's notice, expiring with the end of a month of the tenancy, as required to legally terminate the tenancy itself.
2. Serve a separate 'notice of suit' — West Bengal law requires this additional notice specifically informing the tenant of your intention to file an eviction suit and the grounds for it. Skipping this step, or combining it improperly with the termination notice, is a common reason eviction suits get dismissed on technical grounds.
3. File the eviction suit before the civil court of competent jurisdiction (or the Rent Controller mechanism, depending on the case) if the tenant does not vacate after the notice period.
4. Hearing: both parties get a fair opportunity to be heard before the court/Controller decides.
5. Execution: if the tenant still doesn't vacate after a favourable order, apply for execution of the decree through the court.

Genuine requirement claims are the most litigated ground under this Act. Courts scrutinise whether the landlord's stated need is bona fide and not a pretext to remove a long-term tenant for a rent hike. Be prepared to show concrete facts — family size, current accommodation, and specific plans for the property — rather than a bare assertion of need. The one-year bar on recently-acquired property exists precisely to prevent speculative purchases aimed at quick eviction.