The Diplomat Desk
Jammu, (TDD) In response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 17/2020) seeking the eviction of former ministers and legislators from government accommodations, the Jammu & Kashmir administration has ordered 29 ex-legislators to vacate their bungalows immediately following the conclusion of the election process.
This was revealed during a hearing in the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, presided over by Acting Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Puneet Gupta.
AAG Amit Gupta, representing the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir, informed the court that, aside from former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and BJP State President Ravinder Raina, all former ministers, legislators, and political figures had been instructed to vacate the government properties.
Advocate Supriya Chouhan, appearing for the PIL, argued that these individuals should be evicted promptly as a new government is expected to be in place within two weeks. She expressed concern that the UT administration had not yet complied with the Supreme Court’s directives.
AAG Gupta stated that, following a September 2, 2024 meeting of the Designated Committee, 31 ex-legislators, including prominent figures like Sajad Gani Lone, Abdul Gani Vakil, and Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, were directed to leave the government accommodations after the elections. However, he added that Azad and Raina would retain their residences based on the committee’s recommendations.
The PIL, filed in August 2020, seeks the eviction of ex-legislators and ministers who no longer have the right to stay in government housing after the dissolution of the J&K Assembly. Advocate Chouhan argued that these individuals should also be charged commercial rent for their continued occupancy.
After hearing the arguments, the Division Bench directed that a fresh compliance report be shared with Advocate Chouhan. The case has been scheduled for further hearing on October 30, 2024.(TDD)
