HC directs TN govt to frame regulations on allotment of

The Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu government to frame appropriate regulations with regard to allotment and surrender of the government accommodation to public servants as per the directions of the Supreme Court in a 2013 order.

A bench, comprising Justices K K Sasidharan and Justice P Velmurugan, said the failure of the state government to frame the guidelines in tune with the apex court order was being taken advantage of by the allottees and their legal heirs in occupying official accommodation even after their retirement.

"Since there are many officers still occupying government bungalows and residential apartments even after their retirement and transfer, every effort should be taken by the government to issue guidelines as expeditiously as possible and in any case within three months," he said.

It was dismissing an appeal against a single judge's order upholding a January 2007 eviction notice served on the daughter of a former government employee who continued to occupy the house alloted to her father even four years after his death.

The bench in its order noted that the Supreme Court in its verdict on the S D Bandi case in 2013 had directed the judges, ministers, legislators and other public servants to vacate the official residences within a month from the date of superannuation and issued detailed guidelines for compliance.

The appeal was filed by Manimegalai, the daughter of Rathinam who was alloted a residential house in the city in 1966 while serving as a superintendent in the Tamil Nadu Accountant General Office.

The allottee died on November 30, 2003 and his wife pre-deceased him, but his daughter continued to occupy the house.

After the eviction process was initiated in 2007, she launched a legal battle which came to an end in February, 2010 when the high court upheld the order to vacate the premises.

However, she continued to stay in the house and filed the appeal on multiple grounds.

She had contended among other things that several retired IAS officials and others were allowed by the government to stay in the accommodation alloted to them.

Dismissing the appeal, the bench said time has come to direct the state government to show sensitivity to the issue.

It, however, granted time till July 31 to the petitioner to vacate, failing which the Tamil Nadu Housing Board can evict her.