High Court Directs Disclosure of Politicians with Alternative Housing in Jammu & Srinagar

High Court Directs Disclosure of Politicians with Alternative Housing in Jammu & Srinagar

VoM News Desk | September 16, 2023 | 03:53 AM IST | Courts & Law, Jammu Kashmir | Follow on Google News

High Court Directs Disclosure of Politicians with Alternative Housing in Jammu & Srinagar. (Representative Image)

In a significant order with far-reaching public implications, a Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, comprising Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Rajesh Sekhri, has issued directives in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the unauthorized retention of Ministerial Bungalows and government accommodation by ex-Ministers, ex-MLAs, and ex-MLCs.

Listing Individuals with Government Accommodation

The court has instructed Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed, representing the petitioner, and Senior AAG S S Nanda, representing the Estates Department, to provide a list of individuals who possess houses in Jammu or Srinagar, as mentioned in the status report filed on March 28, 2023. The status report initially contained a list of 48 politicians who were allowed to utilize government accommodation and Ministerial Bungalows in Jammu and Srinagar cities.

Public Interest Litigation Background

The PIL had drawn attention to the alleged unauthorized retention of Ministerial Bungalows and government housing in Jammu and Srinagar by former Ministers, MLAs, and MLCs. It sought appropriate directions to the Estates Department to ensure the eviction of these illegal occupants, particularly in light of the dissolution of the State Assembly in June 2018.

Rule 5 of Estates Regulations, 2004

During the hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed highlighted Rule 5 of the Estates Regulations, 2004, which specifies that certain categories of individuals are ineligible for government residential accommodation. This includes those who own or possess houses in the relevant city or are in default of payment of license fees, among other criteria.

Revealing Names of Politicians with Alternative Housing

Advocate Ahmed informed the court that many politicians who own houses in Jammu or Srinagar had been allowed to retain Ministerial Bungalows, even under the discretionary quota. He specifically mentioned the names of 48 politicians, including prominent figures like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shamsher Singh Manhas, Kavinder Gupta, and Mehbooba Mufti, among others, who have been allowed to retain government accommodation.

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