HC quashes LG order on cancellation of AAP's office bungalow

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday quashed Lt. Governor Anil Baijal's order cancelling the allotment of a bungalow at 206 Rouse Avenue that houses the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters.

Noting that the Lt. Governor did not give any reason for the cancellation of the allotment and his April 12 order did not state which law/rule was violated, Justice Vibhu Bakhru sent the matter back to Baijal to pass a reasoned order within eight weeks of hearing the AAP.

Challenging the LG's order, the AAP said its allotment was cancelled, however, other parties were allotted accommodation to run their respective offices in the same area.

As per the central government's policy, all registered political parties are entitled to an accommodation, it said.

The AAP was allotted bungalow number 206 at the Rouse Avenue here on December 31, 2015.

The party on April 12 received a communication that Baijal had cancelled the allotment of the bungalow on the ground that it was contrary to laws and rules, said the party.

The order came a day after a three-member Shunglu Committee appointed by then Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung questioned a Cabinet decision of allotting the government-owned bungalow to the AAP for its office.

--IANS

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