Revision as of 06:46, 5 September 2016

Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, Jun 16 2015

Houses for artistes

The Times of India, Jun 16 2015

Dipak Dash

Artistes too latch on to govt houses

Politicians are not the only ones trying to hang on to government accommodations long after their term has expired. Prominent artistes too are overstaying their welcome. Several exponents from the field of music, dance and art are living in government flats for over 11 years and in some cases up to 36 years, paying a nominal licence fee against the limit of stay of six years. Sources said the licence fee for such accommodations in posh areas, including Lodhi Colony , Asian Games Village, Shahajahan Road, Kaka Nagar, Gulmohar Park, Pandara Road and R K Puram, is below Rs 1,000 per month.

Records accessed by TOI shows that none of the 27 occupants fall within the eligibility criteria set for government accommodation. The list includes Santoor maestro Pt Bhajan Sopori, Kathak exponents Pt Birju Maharaj and Geetanjali Lal, renowned painter Jatin Das, Odissi exponents H K Behera and Mayadhar Raut.

In three cases, the houses have been occupied by artistes' dependents for 4-11 years whereas the norm says, “in case of death of an allottee, the immediate family shall be allowed retention period of six months“. “This is blocking other young artists to get an accommodation in Delhi, who cannot afford a house in pursuit of their artistic endeavours,“ said an official.

Officials said the cabinet committee on accommodation has been giving extension to these occupants after cases are forwarded by the culture ministry . The latter has already sent the list of almost all these artists for further extension to the urban development ministry .

Limits on government accommodation to officers

The Times of India, Sep 1, 2011

Govt must stop allotting two houses to babus: SC

The Supreme Court has faulted the practice of government servants retaining official accommodation from the place they are transferred out and occupying another at the place of posting.

A bench of Justices B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar disapproved the allotment of two houses to a single officer, one in Chandigarh and another in some part of the same state. It also termed as illegal the discretionary power exercised by the government to allow officials retain houses much beyond the 4-6 month period after their transfer or retirement.

Justice Kumar, writing the judgment for the bench, said: “These are matters of serious concern. There is no rule that can be brought to our notice or is available on the records providing that an officer who is posted outside Chandigarh/ Panchkula/Mohali and whose spouse is not entitled to any government accommodation of any category can be provided with two houses, one at the district/division level to which he is transferred and another at Chandigarh and its adjoining area.” TNN

SC on memorials in government bungalows

The Times of India, Nov 24 2015

But SC says no govt quarter shall be put to such use

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam's grand nephew A P J Syed Haja Ibrahim has quit the BJP, riled by the NDA government's refusal to earmark Kalam's official bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi as a `Knowledge Centre' as a mark of respect to the ex-president. Ibrahim might not know that the government's hands are tied in this case. The Supreme Court on July 5, 2013 had taken serious note of official bungalows in New Delhi and state capitals being under unauthorised occupation and had ordered eviction of illegal occupants.

A bench of Justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi had taken objection to official residences getting converted into memorials for departed political leaders. It had ordered, “Henceforth, no memorials should be allowed in future in any government house earmarked for residential accommodation.“ Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, who was amicus curiae in the matter that originated from Karnataka, had suggested to the court that all government houses which had been turned into memorials should be retrieved, memorials in government houses should be removed and no more memorials should be allowed.

However, the court found that government houses which were turned into memorials were allotted on lease to the respective trustssocieties by the cabinet committee on accommodation in accordance with the guidelines framed for the purpose as per the SC's direction in Shiv Sagar Tiwari vs Union of India case.

The lease agreements were executed between the government of India and the respective trusts for specified periods. “It would, therefore, be violation of the agreement if such houses are retrieved before the lease period is over,“ it said.

Overstaying in government accomodation

The Times of India, Aug 23 2016

Dipak Dash

Overstaying in government accommodation will now cost much more than just shelling out market rent, which is 40 to 55 times of what occupants pay every month. As per the new rules which have come into force, such occupants will have to shell out 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and so on of the rent for every subsequent month in addition to the market rent until they vacate.There will also be similar hefty charges for those, including MPs, found subletting their accommodation. In a recent order, the directorate of estates (DoE) has introduced the additional charges in telescopic method from second month onwards in addition to the market rent (damage charges) to discourage government employees from overstaying in official accommodation. For example, a secre tary rank officer, who pays less than Rs 4,000 a month as government rent will end up paying at least Rs 2.10 lakh in the first month of overstaying. By the fifth month he she would have to pay at least Rs 3 lakh a month.

UD ministry officials said the new clause will hurt all, starting from class-IV employees to those at the highest level. The damage charges is higher in case of subletting. In such cases, the damage charges is two times of the market rent and there will be 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% extra charges every subsequent month.

One of the officials said till now MPs are not covered under these norms as they are not “government servants“.He said, “We are changing this norm since anyone allotted a government accommodation must not sublet any portion of the house. Subletting by anyone will be treated as unauthorised act and so the damage charge norms will be applicable.“

The UD ministry is also coming out with compilation of all the nearly 300 guidelines that have been issued since 1997 for allotment of government accommodation.