The Delhi Government embarked on a drive to get Government flats vacated in various Government colonies. Till now the Public Works Department’s (PWD) estate department has managed to get possession of around 1,000 such flats and further action in the offing to get back from illegal occupiers. All these flats of Delhi Government are at extremely important locations like Model Town, Timapur, Bela Road, Gulabi Bagh, Mayur Vihar, Hari Nagar, Dwarka, Vikaspuri and Siddharth Extension in South Delhi and are Type I to VI flats. Officials were startled to find out that in majority of cases, the employees have rented to outsiders or non-Government employees that is considered gross violation of service rules. In some cases, retired employees have refused to vacate the premises despite several reminders by the department.
Top sources told The Pioneer that retired Government officials were occupying these flats for several years. As per Government norms, senior clerks are entitled for Type II flats while Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Principals of Government schools are entitled for Type IV flats. All the illegal occupants were occupying Type I to Type IV flats for the past several years. Though the flats were in illegal occupation for several years but the Government departments were not in active mode to get them evicted forthwith. This process started few months back and till now over 1,000 Government flats have already been vacated. It is up to the Government authorities if they want to initiate major penalty proceedings against these illegal occupants or not.
The PWD’s estate officer and the assistant housing commissioner have started sending warning letters to remaining unauthorised occupants as well. They have specified in the letters forwarded to unauthorised occupants that the original allottees have retired and therefore, they are ineligible. The Delhi Government employee can retain the flat on payment of prescribed licence fee for a limited period and that too with the consent of the competent authority. On these grounds and also for their apparent violations, the illegal allottees are being asked to appear in person to explain why action should not be initiated against them. The estate officer has specified that in their absence, they can pass ex-parte eviction order as well. This process has yielded dividend in the vacation of 1,000 odd flats.
Delhi Government has around 7,000 flats for officials at the aforesaid prime locations. Now the Government can allot 1,000 newly vacated one to its officials. Sources claimed that this process has given encouraging result so this process will continue for next few months.
Next, the Government will also start drive against those who have given their flats on rentals. Thus, the Public Works Department has decided to act tough against illegal occupants of Government accommodation.