Page 57 - Tehelka Issue 13 - July 15, 2018

politics

Row oveR saRkaRi bungalow Kalyan Singh were among

the six former Chief Ministers
eviction Refuses to die down who have been asked by the
Estate Department to vacate
the bungalows within 15 days
in pursuance of the Supreme
A tweet by Manish Tewari, former union minister, has ignited a debate on Court’s order. However, in a
ethics of holding government bungalows by MPs and others in Delhi and in bid to circumvent the order,
their constituencies, writes Sarrah the former Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister and BSP su-
class of citizens is premo Mayawati recently put
abhorrent to the up a signboard outside her of-
constitutional ethos,” ficial accommodation in Luc-
the court had held. know announcing that it was
The court had a memorial named after the
observed that “the party founder late Kanshiram.
Chief Minister, once The judgment mentioned that
he/she demits the States like Tamil Nadu have
office, is at par with no provision for providing
the common citizen, official accommodation to
though by virtue of
the office held, he/ The Congress
she may be entitled
to security and other leader has
protocols. But allot- publicly asked
ment of government
bungalow, to be why ministers
occupied during his/ across states
her lifetime, would
not be guided by are hankering
the constitutional
t was the Supreme • Home sake Many MPs get houses principle of equality”. after bigger
Court which had on allotted in their constituencies even “Bungalows constitute bungalows even
May 7 made a scathing though they are not entitled to public property which by
judgment quashing itself is scarce and meant when they don’t
I a law giving lifetime for use of current holders qualify for them
use of bungalows, privileges Distressing to see minis- of public offices”, the court
and perks to former Chief ters hankering after bigger had observed. It said it was
Ministers. A Bench led by bungalows, former ministers necessary that public serv- former Chief Ministers.
Justice Ranjan Gogoi axed the knocking the doors of courts ants should act in a manner It is high time former chief
law, saying a former Chief to retain bungalows and MPs which reflected that “ultimate ministers and MPs come
Minister is only a commoner getting government bunga- authority is vested in the citi- clean and vacate government
and not a “special class of lows allotted in their constitu- zens” and they were eventu- bungalows in line with the or-
citizen”. And now the minister encies,” it led to a war of words ally accountable to the people. ders of the Supreme Court of
Manish Tewari has triggered on social media with most The effect of the judgment India and advice tendered by
a public debate by asking supporting the ex-minister. became apparent within one of their colleagues. Keep-
why ministers across states It may be recalled that the days of its pronouncement ing official accommodation in
are hankering after bigger apex court verdict was based when Union Home Minister Delhi alloted to them as mem-
bungalows and why MPs are on a petition filed by non- Rajnath Singh and Rajasthan bers of Parliament and also
getting government houses governmental organization Governor Kalyan Singh, who availing government accomo-
allotted in their constituen- Lok Prahari and the Supreme were earlier Uttar Pradesh dation in their constituencies
cies even though they are not Court observed in its judg- Chief Ministers, informed the is not only unethical but also
entitled to. ment that the Constitution Estate Department that they against the rule of law that is
When Tewari tweeted recognizes only “one single would vacate their govern- equal for all citizens.
that “As an MP and minister, class of citizens with one sin- ment bungalows shortly. For
I lived in my own apartment. gular voice (vote)”. “A special the record, Rajnath Singh and letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 july 2018 57 www.Tehelka.com

57 Sarrah.indd 3 03/07/18 4:09 PM