Allotment of govt. bungalows cantbe on whims: HC

The Delhi High Court on Thursday noticed that allotment of presidency residences can’t be left to the “whims” of authorities whereas listening to a plea by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) looking for a bungalow for its nationwide convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Justice Sachin Datta directed the joint secretary of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the director of the Directorate of Estates to look just about in the matter on September 25. The courtroom criticised the Centre on Tuesday for delaying its resolution on the allotment, remarking that the federal government’s strategy resembled a “free system for all”. “Is there a process in place? I need to see how this process has been utilized prior to now. How are priorities mounted, and what sequence is adopted? Assuming there are restricted bungalows, how do you resolve?” the courtroom requested on Thursday.

‘Transparent mechanism’

It additionally stated that there needs to be a “clear mechanism”. “It can’t be purely in your whims. As lengthy as there’s a clear and discernible coverage, I wish to know the strategy of assessing precedence. I’m involved with the bigger concern of how discretion is exercised within the allotment of bungalows,” the courtroom stated.

The Centre’s counsel knowledgeable the courtroom that the Type VII bungalow at 35, Lodhi Estate, sought by AAP for Mr. Kejriwal, had already been allotted to Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on July 24 this 12 months. This submission was made in response to the courtroom’s earlier question relating to the particular date of allotment.

The courtroom requested the Centre to submit by September 18 the coverage governing allotment of residences from the final pool and the present ready checklist. Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, showing for AAP, argued that despite the fact that the Centre had earlier sought time to answer AAP’s proposal for allotting the Lodhi Estate bungalow to Mr. Kejriwal, it was concurrently allotted to another person. The bungalow was vacated by Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati in May this 12 months. In its petition, AAP contended that underneath tips for allotment of lodging from the final pool to political events, the president of a recognised nationwide celebration is entitled to at least one authorities residence in Delhi, offered they neither personal a home nor occupy one in some other official capability.