Govt intensifies eviction of J&K leaders from official bungalows

Oppn alleges selective approach by administration

JAMMU: As the majority of government bungalows are still occupied by former leaders and former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), the administration has initiated a mega drive for eviction of these accommodations across Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the leaders from Jammu region, National Panthers Party (JKNPP) Chairman and former Education Minister Harsh Dev Singh became the first political person to have been served the eviction notice, even as the opposition leaders alleged that the administration is adopting ‘pick-and-choose’ policy, as none of the BJP leaders have been asked to vacate their bungalows and the notices are being served to only opposition leaders.
While the former MLAs have to vacate official accommodation six months after dissolution of the Legislative Assembly, none of the leader has vacated the bungalows allotted to them during PDP-BJP government.
“Even some leaders have retained their bungalows occupied before PDP-BJP government,” an official said wishing anonymity.
“After Jammu and Kashmir transitioned into Union Territory, the administration has adopted tough attitude for evicting government,” he added.
Although evection of government property is mandatory as per rules but some alleged selective approach adopted by administration in process.
“The BJP leaders have not been asked for evection but only opposition leaders are being targeted,” a legislator said, whishing not to be named.
Two days back, the Estate department had asked JKNPP Chairman Harsh Dev Singh to vacate his government bungalow at Gandhi Nagar.
“I have been raising voice against the government decision for downgrading Jammu and Kashmir state into Union Territory, since past month may this is the reason for my immediate evection from government bungalow,” Harsh Dev told The News Now.
“In the same area, many Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders including former MLAs are occupying government bungalows but they have not been asked to vacate,” he rued.
If the official sources of J&K Estates Department are to be believed, eviction notices have also been served in Kashmir region.
On November 5, the department has sent eviction notices to two former chief ministers, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, to get them to vacate their official bungalows on Gupkar Road in Srinagar.
Another former CM, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, had a few weeks ago vacated the official Gupkar Road house allotted to him.
Azad, as a former CM, had been occupying the J&K Bank’s guesthouse as his official residence, as provided in the J&K Legislature Members’ Pension Act, 1984.
The said law was scrapped when the J&K Reorganisation Act of 2019 came into effect on October 31, 2019.
Former CMs Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are in possession of two bungalows — Gupkar No.1 and Fairview House — which are fitted with modern facilities like gyms, saunas and steam baths.
In a report submitted to chief secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, Justice M K Hanjura (Retd), chairperson of the Law Commission, has declared Section 3-C (e) and (f) of the State Legislature Members’ Pension Act as arbitrary and not in consonance with any scheme or law.