The High Court of Uttarakhand in Nainital has asked the State Government as to how much rent it charges the former Chief Ministers for the residence and other facilities provided to them. Hearing on a public interest litigation filed by Rural litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RlEK) chairman Avadhash Kaushal against the provision of residence and other facilities to former chief ministers of Uttarakhand by the state government, the high court set December 21 as the date for next hearing in the case. The case was presented before the HC division bench comprising chief justice KM Joseph and justice UC Dhyani.
It will be recalled that the RlEK chairman had filed the PIl in the year 2010 stating that the Government residences, staff and other facilities being provided by the State Government to former chief ministers amounts to misuse of public money. Citing past order of the Supreme Court of India, the petitioner further pointed out that in the case of Uttar Pradesh the apex court had stated facilities being provided to former Chief Ministers as being against the regulations. During the hearing it was stated on behalf of one of the former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna that he be given a period of six months to vacate the Government accommodation as he does not own any residence in Uttarakhand. During the hearing, it was also stated on behalf of the State Government that notices had already been issued in the past by the State Government to the former chief ministers to vacate the bungalows provided to them.
In the notices issued by the State Government to the former Chief Ministers in the past, they had been asked to vacate the residences by December 16.