According to the State Bank of Sikkim, ₹35 lakh was collected from tenant verifications. Following DGP Akshay Sachdeva's statement that Sikkim document holders were exempt, will the Sikkim government refund those Sikkimese who paid?
The Sikkim government’s tenant verification drive has ignited political outrage, with opposition parties accusing the administration of collecting fees from locals due to misleading information. The drive, which began on February 1, charged tenants ₹50, resulting in the collection of ₹35 lakh from over 30,000 individuals. However, confusion arose after the government later exempted locals holding certain documents, raising questions about potential refunds.
The Sikkim Police’s misinformation during the process led to thousands of locals paying the fee unnecessarily, sparking public discontent. Opposition parties, including the Citizen Action Party (CAP) and Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), have alleged administrative mismanagement and multiple payments forced on locals.
The debate has now expanded to demands for stricter regulations on non-locals. The SDF has warned of potential Inner Line Permit (ILP) implementation to restrict outsider entry, while CAP is calling for a Local Protection Act to safeguard Sikkimese citizens.
Under the Sikkim Tenants and Domestic and Professional Helps (Compulsory Verification) Act, 2008, the government initially mandated verification for all tenants. Later, exemptions were announced for those holding documents such as Certificates of Identification (COI), Sikkim Voter IDs, Janta Parcha, Residential Certificates, and Sikkim Subject Certificates. This sudden policy shift angered locals who had already paid the fee.
Officials have hinted at difficulties issuing refunds, as the collected ₹35 lakh has already been transferred to the government’s account. The Labour Department has come under fire for poor record-keeping, with critics arguing that proper tenant and worker records would have eliminated the need for the large-scale verification.
While the government defended the verification drive as necessary for controlling undocumented labor, opposition parties remain unconvinced. The State Bank of Sikkim (SBS) also struggled to handle the influx of payments, prompting the government to introduce an online payment system.
Sikkim’s Director General of Police (DGP) Akshay Sachdeva clarified the state’s stance on tenant verification under the 2008 Act during a press conference on February 11, 2025. He said that tenant verification is mandatory for outsiders, while locals with any of the following documents are exempt: Sikkim Subject Certificate, Certificate of Identification (COI), Residential Certificate, Land Documents in Sikkim, or Sikkim Voter ID Card.
Landlords must visit police stations for tenant registration, or send a representative if unavailable. Additional manpower will be deployed after February 15 to handle verification requests without disrupting policing duties. DGP Sachdeva assured residents that the drive aims to enhance public safety, not harass locals, and urged cooperation for peace and security.
