Five former lok Sabha MPs have moved court against Centre’s eviction notice to them for illegally occupying Government’s residential accommodation despite three months having lapsed since their loss in the Parliamentary polls. This, even as 23 other ex-lok Sabha MPs, including six former cabinet ministers Ajit Singh, Girija Vyas, Pallam Raju, Krishna Tirath, Jitendra Singh and Balram Nayak, are yet to vacate the Government houses despite repeated reminders from the Urban Development Ministry.
Sources in the Urban Development Ministry said that those who have moved court have cited medical or some other reasons and sought permission to continue staying for some more time. The former MPs include Congress’ Chinta Mohan and Vijay Inder Singla and BSP’s AK Sharma, who too was till sometime ago a Congress member.
Singla, the former MP from Sangrur in Punjab, said he had “almost vacated” the Government accommodation. “I approached the court seeking more time due to some health problems in my family. I have now taken a house in Defence Colony and will shift soon,” he told The Pioneer.
When contacted, former MP from Karnal AK Sharma, who is illegally staying at the Government residence at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, refused to comment. He said he will “talk to his workers about what steps should be taken further in the matter” and get back with his version, which he did not.
As far as the former Cabinet Ministers are concerned, sources said, Vyas has assured to vacate her bungalow by August 31. The Directorate of Estate of the UD Ministry has managed to vacate Government houses of 241 former Ministers and MPs till date. The eviction cases relating to the ex-ministers were referred to the quasi-judicial authority by the Directorate of Estate after the expiry of one month grace period on July 26. While some of the ex-Ministers and former MPs had sought extension of Government accommodation on medical grounds, others wanted some more time to vacate official accommodation after making alternate arrangements, the sources said.
In so far as accommodation for newly elected MPs is concerned, eviction notices were served to 258 former MPs, who lost in the recently held lok Sabha elections.
Several teams were deployed to carry out the eviction order and they had to resort to forceful eviction in 20 cases, the sources added. If they do not vacate the house on their own, the Ministry might have to again resort forceful eviction against the defaulters, they further said.