The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF) has been served a "final notice" asking it to vacate its premises at Teen Murti Bhavan within 15 days. It comes after a quasi-judicial body of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) gave a hearing to JNMF to present its stand in connection with the alleged illegal possession of the Teen Murti premises.
"The quasi-judicial body has issued a final notice to JNMF to vacate its premises at Teen Murti Bhavan within 15 days," sources said. A row had erupted after the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry issued an eviction notice to the Fund last month. Earlier, the show cause notice was issued on October 15, in which given JNMF a week to appear for a hearing before the directorate of estates.
Source said that if JNMF, chaired by senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, fails to comply with the directions, an action will be taken as per laid down rules under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.
According to the Act, if persons, who are in illegal possession of public premises, refuse or fail to comply with the order of eviction, estate officer may evict them from premises and take possession thereof and may, for that purpose, use such force as may be necessary.
In the eviction notice, ministry had said the Governemnt is planning a museum for all the former prime ministers of the country on the 25 acre Teen Murti Bhavan complex housing the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial and needed space to expand.
On its part, the Fund also said that it was "fully entitled to using this property as it has functioned in the public interest over the past half century or more in fulfilment of both its own objects and those of the (Nehru Memorial Museum and Library)".