Clarification regarding allocation of bungalow No.10, Rajaji Marg to Union Minister Dr. Mahesh Sharma
Regarding allocation of General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) at No.10, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi to Minister of Culture & Tourism, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, it is clarified that : (i) Government of India vide decision F.No.28011/2011-W.2(Vol.II Part) of 18th October 2014 imposed a total ban on conversion of Government bungalows into memorials of the departed leaders.
(ii) Earlier, Supreme Court vide their judgement of 5th July 2013 in the matter of S.D. Bandi vs. Divisional Traffic Officer, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and Others held the view that no Government bungalow be converted into memorial.
(iii) Executive Assistant of former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has informed the Ministry of Urban Development that the said bungalow would be vacated by October 31, 2015;
(iv) Government has already decided to build a memorial for Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, his birthplace ;
(v) The said bungalow at No.10, Rajaji Marg has been allotted to Dr. Mahesh Sharma under Rule 3 of the Ministers Residence Rules, 1962, which says Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State shall be allotted Type VIII accommodation subject to availability and in that order
(vi) All other Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State have been allotted Government accommodation and only Dr.Mahesh Sharma was waiting for official accommodation and accordingly, the said bungalow was allotted to him on vacation basis.
AAR/
