BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday approached the Delhi High Court against the Central Government's failure to provide security at his private accommodation.
Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta, representing Swamy mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad which agreed to list the case for hearing on Monday.
Mehta said that the Government, during the hearing of Swamy's petition seeking re-allotment of his Government accommodation, had assured continued security cover to the senior leader at his private residence. But no such arrangements have been made till date, he said.
Swamy is a Z category protectee and got accommodation in December 2015 and continued at the same place when he became Rajya Sabha Member in April 2016. But when his Rajya Sabha tenure ended in April 2022, the Urban Development Ministry asked him to vacate the accommodation. Swamy approached the Delhi High Court in September 2022 arguing for the continuation of the accommodation citing his Z category security.
However, the Central Government had opposed the plea arguing that even though the security perception towards Swamy had not been downgraded, there was no obligation on the Government to provide accommodation to him along with security cover.
Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain had appeared for the Centre and stated that the Government would continue to provide security to Swamy, subject to periodical reviews. He had also told the Court that Swamy had a house in Delhi where he could shift and that protecting agencies would take all steps to ensure his safety there.
The Court had, therefore, dismissed that petition after noting that the allotment was made for five years and that it was not shown any material which mandates or requires allotment of Government accommodation to Z category protectee.