SC asks Centre to disclose names of illegal occupants of govt bungalows

The government has to furnish details on top three types of residences before the start of Parliament's winter session

The Supreme Court today directed the central government to furnish the names of persons occupying the top three categories of government accommodation in Delhi, including those who are staying unauthorisedly, besides other details of the bungalows.

A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu asked the government to furnish the details of Type 6, 7 and 8 accommodations before the winter session of Parliament which is likely to begin on November 24.

The Centre, in its affidavit, submitted that many former Ministers and MPs who were reportedly living unauthorisedly have vacated their premises.

It said that former ministers Pawan Kumar Bansal, A Raja, Dayanidhi Maran, S M Krishna, Mukul Wasnik, C P Joshi and Mukul Roy have vacated the premises recently.

Government submitted its report regarding the people whose names were highlighted as unauthorised occupants in various media reports.

Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae, told the bench that illegal occupants are capable of affording private accommodation.

She said that occupants are allowed to overstay in government accommodations due to various reasons and cited the case of Saroj Kumari, widow of later Arjun Singh, who has been living in government bungalow on medical ground after the demise of the leader in March 2011.

The Centre in its affidavit said that the total number of type 6 and 7 quarters in general pool is 126 and 187 respectively, which is 0.5% in comparison to total number of quarters in Delhi which is around 61,466.

It also said that with regard to memorials in General Pool Residential Accommodation, the Ministry of Urban Development has totally banned conversion of government bungalows into memorials of departed leaders.

It said the allotment of accommodations can be made on out of turn basis also on security grounds to any private person, who is a SPG protectee and market rate of license fee is charged from the allottee.

The apex court had on July 18 issued notice to Centre on illegal occupation of government accommodation which was brought to its notice by former CAG Vinod Rai.