Political leaders, who have been occupying Government quarters unauthorisedly for a long period, may finally relent and vacate them following a case being filed in this regard at the Orissa High Court.
After the case was filed and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his displeasure over the unauthorised possession of quarters by leaders of his party as well as from other political parties, Ministers and MlAs have finally felt the jerk, said sources. Several former MlAs still possess quarters even after losing in the elections.
The issue has been repeatedly raised in the State Assembly. The Chief Minister in his reply during the previous session said that as many as 16 political leaders have occupied more than one Government quarter in the capital city and they include the Chief Whips of both Government and opposition parties.
According to records, political leaders including four former Ministers, two MPs and nine leaders of BJD, Congress and BJP are in unauthorised possession of quarters.
Earlier, a case had been registered against former Minister Pradip Nayak for occupying a quarter at the MlA Colony.
Similar cases have been filed against former BJP leader Pratap Sarangi, former Congress MlA Rabi Mallick and MPs Sarojini Hembram and Ramachandra Hansda since 2014 for occupying quarters.
Several leaders have also been found occupying Type VII Government bungalows. On the other hand, at least nine existing MlAs have not been allotted quarters so far.
After the case was filed in the High Court, the Chief Secretary and the Assembly Secretary have been directed to submit their responses in this connection.