HC refuses to stay eviction of Congress MP Adhir Chowdhury

The Delhi High Court today refused to stay the eviction of Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from his bungalow in New Moti Bagh here.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath, while upholding the single-judge bench order of February 1, said that as the MP is not entitled for relief, his appeal is dismissed.

"Pending representation before the House committee does not mean you are entitled for relief. The single judge has rightly dismissed your petition. This petition is also dismissed," the bench said.

Chowdhury, a Lok Sabha member, had moved the court against the February 1 order dismissing his plea against the eviction, following which the authorities concerned had disconnected water and power supply to his ministerial bungalow at 14, New Moti Bagh, even as they started eviction proceedings against him.

Yesterday, the division bench, which did not interfere with disconnection of utilities, had directed maintenance of status quo with regard to the eviction till today morning.

According to the Directorate of Estates, the MP has been allotted another house on Humayun Road and given sufficient time to vacate the ministerial bungalow which, it said, he was not entitled to. But Chowdhury did not vacate despite several reminders in the past, it said.

Chowdhury had yesterday said that it was nothing but "political vendetta against opposition by the government."

During the arguments yesterday, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, who appeared on behalf of the Directorate of Estates, had told the court that the government was trying to accommodate the MP but he was not satisfied with the housing options being given to him.

Chowdhury's counsel had submitted that there was a security threat to the MP as well as his family at the new premises.

Defending the eviction move, the Urban Development Ministry had said that Chowdhury was offered three Type VI bungalows after cancellation of Type VIII bungalow at 14, New Moti Bagh but he refused.

The allotment of the bungalow was cancelled in 2014 by the ministry since he ceased to be a minister at the Centre after the 2014 general elections.

As a member of Lok Sabha, he is entitled for a Type-6 accommodation. He was allotted an alternative accommodation at C-1/99, Moti Bagh by the House Committee of Lok Sabha in January, 2015 which was not accepted by him.