The Delhi High Court on Tuesday pulled up the central government to delay former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the national capital. Justice Sachin Dutta said that the government’s approach should be fair and it cannot be selected to decide who will be allotted housing.
The judge asked the Center to submit details of the policy controlling the allocation of houses from the general residential pool and the current waiting list by 18 September. The court was hearing the petition of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) requesting the Center to instruct Kejriwal to allot housing in Delhi.
On behalf of AAP, senior advocate Rahul Mehra said that the government lawyer had earlier sought time to take instructions on the party’s proposal to allot the bungalow Kejriwal at 35, Lodhi Estate, but was allotted to someone else. The bungalow was vacated by BSP chief Mayawati in May this year.
Mehra said that later, the Central Government’s lawyer repeatedly sought time citing the unavailability of Additional Solicitor General (ASG). He argued that on the last two dates of the hearing, the Center continued to postpone the case in the court and allotted the bungalow to someone else.
ASG Chetan Sharma admitted that 35, Lodhi Estate Bungalow has been allotted to a Minister of State and urged the court to give some time to give details of the allocation. Citing a “long waiting list” for government houses, Sharma said that no political party can demand allotment of a particular bungalow.
He said that “whenever possible”, Kejriwal will be allotted accommodation. The High Court also asked the Center when 35, Lodhi Estate was allotted to the Minister of State for Bungalow.
The judge said, “This is completely unacceptable, you have allotted 35, Lodhi Estate Bungalow. You are not interested in this matter. The same thing happened last time. Even the previous day. There were clear instructions for records. The waiting list cannot be interrupted. ”
The judge said, “I want to know about the policy related to the general pool. What is waiting list? You cannot adopt a selected attitude. I want to see when this (35 Lodhi Estate) is allocated. Before or after 26 August, it is very important to know.