At a time when the evictions of politicians illegally occupying Government bungalows have stirred a hornets’ nest, a former bureaucrat has been staying put in one such premises at a prime location in the heart of the Capital for the last nine years. The former bureaucrat retired way back in 2005.
Virender Singh, the former IAS officer of AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories) cadre, even has an amount of Rs 81.21 lakh outstanding against him for overstaying since his retirement.
Interestingly, while the Delhi Government has been serving him notices and reminders from July this year — with the latest being on September 10, 2014 — the Estate Department of the Union Urban Development Department is clueless about the bungalow (No. 201 Rouse Avenue, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg) itself.
The Delhi Government’s PWD also has no records/documents pertaining to this bungalow. PWD officials claim that he neither acknowledges the receipt of the notices nor replies. He has refused to pay heed to several notices and reminders to him by the Delhi Government, sources said.
When contacted, Singh refused to comment on the issue, saying, “The bungalow does not belong to you”. As per rules, no employee or official can continue to stay in the Government accommodation for more than eight months after his/her retirement. Sources said that it is still not clear whether the bungalow belongs to the Delhi Government’s PWD or the Estate Department of the Union Urban Development Ministry. Intriguingly, neither the Ministry nor the State Government has any record or document pertaining to this bungalow. It was precisely the reason why the department could not issue any notice to him during the last nine years.
If it has been done now, sources said, it was after an informer of PWD tipped off about the bungalow’s occupancy by Singh. Sources said, the PWD served him with the first notice on July 7 and followed it up with another on July 15.
“The respondent has retired from Government service on superannuation on May 31, 2005. The respondent did not vacate the bungalow and as such he has been residing in the said bungalow unauthorisedly. The damages at market rate have been assessed at on the basis of licence fee X65 times for unauthorised use and occupation of the quarter in question. Now a sum of Rs 81,21,499 arrear adds up for unauthorised use and occupation of the premises for period up to July 31, 2014,” said the notice dated September 10.
Sources said that the PWD will shortly issue another notice to him for disconnecting water and electricity supply of the bungalow. “While a large number of employees are struggling to get the Government accommodation in the national capital, Virender Singh has been occupying the Government accommodation in violation of the rules since the last nine years,” said Delhi Government officials adding they will take prompt and stern action.
The eviction of former Union Minister Ajit Singh from his bungalow has recently created a stir with his supporters hitting the roads. Singh wants the bungalow to be converted as his father Chaudhary Charan Singh’s memorial, which the Government flatly refused.
Singh, one of the most powerful bureaucrats in Delhi in his time, had served in the Delhi Government in several departments. He was considered close to former Delhi Chief Minister late Sahib Singh Verma. Singh had held plum positions as Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) chairman, Municipal Commissioner of Delhi and Transport Commissioner.