Authorities today disconnected water and power supply to a ministerial bungalow occupied by Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as they started eviction proceedings against the former UPA Minister who alleged "vendetta" by the government.
Officials reached the 14, New Moti Bagh residence of Chowdhury, who has failed to move to an alternative accommodation provided to him, and snapped the electricity and water connections besides moving out his furniture.
The Lok Sabha MP from Murshidabad attempted to get the eviction stayed by the Delhi High Court which did not interfere with the disconnection of utilities and ordered status quo till tomorrow morning when it will hear the matter.
According to 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, they said.
"I got a stay from the court. It is nothing but political vendetta against opposition by the government," Chowdhury told PTI. He also denied claims that he was not entitled to the house.
Asked why he has not moved to the new house allotted to him, the MP said it has to be made livable with light and electricity connection and other facilities.
"I am asking them to make a joint inspection of the house so that whatever is required can be done," he said.
Chowdhury, who was Minister of State for Railways in UPA government, has been allotted the house at Humayun Road more than one year ago, after he became the Lok Sabha MP from Murshidabad in 2014.
In the High Court, Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath refused to interfere in the proceedings.
"If water and electricity have been disconnected, let it be. We will keep it as it is. We are not passing any interim order (on staying eviction). We will maintain status quo till tomorrow morning," they said.
(REOPENS DEL54)
During the brief arguments in court, advocate Vivek
Narayan Sharma, appearing for the Congress MP, submitted that there was a security threat to the MP as well as his family at the new premises.
Sharma said there have been attacks on Adhir and his family in the past.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, who appeared on behalf of the Directorate of Estates, 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.
Meanwhile, defending the eviction move, Urban Development Ministry maintained that Congress MP was offered three Type VI bungalows after cancellation of Type VIII bungalow at 14, New Moti Bagh but he refused.
19 months after cancellation of allotment, Chowdhury was offered 3 bungalows (Type-6) as per entitlements, but he refused, UD Ministry said in a statement.
It said water and power connections were disconnected after dismissal of petition by High Court earlier. "Physical eviction of bungalow, which is a semi-judicial process set in motion by the Estate Officer was attempted today in respect of the 14, New Moti Bagh, which has been under the occupation of Chowdhury, for 19 months since the cancellation of allotment in June, 2014," it said.
The allotment of the was cancelled on June 27, 2014 by the Ministry since he ceased to be a Minister in the Union Council of Ministers further to the general elections in 2014.
As a Member of Lok Sabha, Chowdhury is entitled for a Type-6 accommodation. He was allotted an alternate accommodation at C-1/99, Moti Bagh by the House Committee of Lok Sabha in January, 2015 which was not accepted by him.
Subsequently he was allotted an independent bungalow at - C1\77, Moti Bagh (Type-6B) on June 1, 2015 but this was also not accepted and moved the Delhi High Court.
He was again allotted a bungalow at C-1/4, Humayun Road on November 3, 2015 and after inspection and certification by CPWD, Chowdhury was requested on December 23, 2015 to vacate the Type-8 bungalow and move into Humayun Road bungalow within 15 days to avoid accumulation of damages and contempt of court.
A reminder was issued to NDMC for disconnection of water and elelctricity connection to New Moti Bagh house under unauthorised occupation of Chowdhury.
Chowdhury moved the High Court against eviction on January 29 this year and the same was dismissed by the High Court on February 1, 2016. Accordingly, water and electricity connections were disconnected today.
Chowdhury today filed an LPA (Letter Patents Appeal) before another bench against the order of single bench.
