A person is found to be an unauthorised occupant of premises belonging to a public corporation. The Estate Officer issues him a notice to show cause and, after considering his reply, orders eviction. Under the Act, the period for the occupant to show cause is not less than:

Explanation: Section 4 of the Public Premises (Eviction) Act, 1971 requires the Estate Officer to serve a show-cause notice on the unauthorised occupant, allowing him NOT LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS (or such longer period as the Estate Officer may allow) to show cause why an eviction order should not be made. After considering the reply, the officer may order eviction, which is appealable before the District Judge. The seven-day minimum makes the procedure summary yet affords basic natural justice. The Act ousts the jurisdiction of civil courts in such evictions.