22 former ministers continue to occupy government accommodation in Delhi
9 May, 2014Overstaying by the former ministers in accommodation provided by the state creates a difficulty for the incoming government apart from causing a situation where the law-makers turn into law-breakers. The Supreme Court had visited the issue last year and had also issued guidelines regarding unauthorised occupation of government bungalows and called for initiating stringent action for breach of privilege against such ministers.
Despite the Supreme Court’s stringent guidelines on unauthorised occupation of government bungalows, former Union Ministers S M Krishna, A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran are among 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. erstwhile members of the Manmohan Singh Government, who continue to occupy sprawling official residences here.
As per the information provided by the Union Ministry of Urban Development (UUD) to Subhash Chandra Agrawal who had filed an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. erstwhile members of the Manmohan Singh Government continued to occupy official residences despite stringent Supreme Court’s guidelines. Those who continued with the unauthorised occupation of government bungalows include the former Union Ministers S M Krishna, former Telecom Minister A Raja, Dayanidhi Maran, former Railway Ministers P K Bansal, Dinesh Trivedi, and Mukul Roy; Vincent H Pala, Palanimanickam, S Jagathrakshakan, S Gandhiselvan, Harish Rawat and C P Joshi.
Apart from the above, the former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and former Bihar Governor Buta Singh are availing special rent-concession on extended lease of ministerial bungalows said to be against Supreme Court directives. The permission was granted to Lalu Prasad on medical grounds and considering his granddaughter's school in Delhi. Buta Singh was given the permission following a letter from PM Manmohan Singh requesting Kamal Nath to let Buta Singh pay a lower rate considering his pension. SC Agrawal who has now been appointed as the consultant to the Delhi government has questioned the practice of providing such palatial residences on special concessional lease-rent.
Activists have called upon the Supreme Court to ensure compliance of its verdict and have demanded that any relaxation granted by its directions should be cleared by the court only. It has been demanded that the Cabinet Committee of Accommodation (CCA) must not be allowed to bypass the Apex Court directives in respect of government accommodation.