Over Rs 1.12 cr due from ex-Ministers, MLAs, others
*Whopping over Rs 78 lakh spent on maintenance
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 23: The illegal occupation of Government accommodation in twin capital cities of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory by the former Ministers, legislators and other persons is a huge drain on the exchequer every month. Moreover, an amount of Rs 1.12 crore is due from them as water and electricity charges and rent while as whopping Rs 78 lakh has been spent on the maintenance of Bungalows and quarters being retained unauthorizedly by them.
These startling figures have come to the fore from the detailed order passed by the Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Rajesh Bindal (Acting Chief Justice) and Justice Sanjay Dhar in the Public Interest Litigation No.17/2020 which highlights illegal occupation of Government houses by the former Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs, MLCs, political persons and bureaucrats.
This system is going on for years together despite categoric judgments of the Supreme Court in case titled Lok Prahari Versus State of Uttar Pradesh and Others and the Division Bench of J&K High Court in case titled Thakur Randhir Singh Versus State of Jammu and Kashmir and Others in terms of which Government houses cannot be allotted to these persons.
“It would be apt to notice certain glaring details of how the public properties and public money is being mis-utilized”, the DB said, adding “the statement of monthly security expenses being incurred on the properties, which are under continuous illegal occupation of political persons after demitting office, makes a strange reading”.
The DB observed that a ministerial bungalow has been provided to the family of late G M Shah, ex- Chief Minister at Jammu but no security personnel has been provided. “It shows that there is no security threat to his family. It has been pointed out by the counsel for the respondents that family of late G M Shah owns a house at Srinagar, where even security has been provided”, the DB said, adding “the question arises as to where was the need to allot house to the family of late G M Shah at Jammu when the family owns accommodation at Srinagar and is residing there”.
Referring the report filed by the Estates Department, the DB said, “by providing security to former Ministers/MLAs/MLCs in nine cases only monthly expense of Rs 32,44,713 is being made at Jammu and Srinagar”, adding “all the 72 allottees of the Government accommodations, to which apparently they don’t have any right in view of the judgment of the Supreme Court, an amount of Rs 56.89 lakh is due on account of electricity and water charges”.
Few names amongst defaulters are family of late G M Shah (Rs 2,39,363), former Minister Ch Lal Singh (Rs 1,81,155), former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta (Rs 7,69,659), former Minister Sunil Sharma (Rs 3,73,463), ex-Chairperson K B Aggarwal (Rs 4,31,906), former MLA Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura (Rs 2,60,790), ex-Deputy Speaker Nazir Ahmed Khan (Rs 2,52,706), ex-MLA Pandith Puri (Rs 1,04,324), ex-MLA Abdul Gani Vakil (Rs 5,88,444), political person Nazir Ahmed Malik (Rs 1,58,410), District President Congress Zahid Hussain Jan (Rs 3,31,624), political person S S Channi (Rs 1,13,752), ex-MLA Ajaz Ahmed Mir (Rs 2,43,262), ex-MLA Bashir Ahmed Dar ( Rs 1,03,926), ex-MLA Yasir Reshi (Rs 2,57,589) and ex-MLA Raja Manzoor (Rs 3,67,441).
Similarly, an amount of Rs 7.93 lakh is being spent every month to pay the salaries to the servants, gardeners and supervisors deployed at the residence of these 72 illegal occupants of the Government accommodation although under law no such servants can be provided to a person who is not a Government employee or otherwise entitled to.
As per the details of the Estates Department, an amount of Rs 55.70 lakh is due from these persons as rent of the accommodations held by them illegally. Moreover, a sum of Rs 78.71 lakh has been spent by the Government on repair and maintenance of the houses in possession of these persons.
Among them are ex-Minister Sunil Sharma (Rs 2,88,860 rent and Rs 2,70,000 incurred on repair/renovation/white wash), ex-Chairperson K B Aggarwal (Rs 1,60,046 rent and Rs 2,80,000 maintenance), ex-MLA Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura (Rs 2,55,349 rent), ex-MLC Abdul Gani Vakil (Rs 5,25,825 rent), political person Nazir Ahmed Malik (Rs 1,85,250 rent), Zahid Hussain Jan-District President Congress (Rs 1,77,330 rent), S S Channi-Political Person (Rs 3,01,050 rent), Parveena Lone, Political Person (Rs 2,88,524 rent and Rs 50,000 maintenance), Mushtaq Ahmed Tantray ,Political Person (Rs 2,56,600 rent and Rs 3,30,000 maintenance), ex-MLA Mohd Amin Bhat (Rs 1,33,840 rent and Rs 1,21,000 incurred on repair/renovation/white wash), Reyaz Ahmed Mir-Political Person (Rs 3,80,210 rent and Rs 90,000 incurred on repair/renovation/ white wash), Mohd. Abbas, Ex-MLA (Rs 1,49,569 rent), Javid Ahmed Mir-Advocate/Political Person (Rs 2,23,480 rent) and ex-MLA Rafi Ahmed Mir (Rs 1,43,238 rent and Rs 18,000 incurred on repair/renovation/white wash).
In the case of former Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, it has been stated that a private house was hired at a monthly rent of Rs 43,000, which was in his occupation, however, the same was de-hired vide order dated 23.03.2018. However, he is still in possession of the house and sum of Rs 15,48,000 is due from him towards the landlord.
“The concerned departments, who are managing the Governmental residential accommodations, are directed to upload the details of all such accommodations in the Union Territory of J&K on the website of the department including the details of the persons in occupation thereof. Further specifying whether the person is a serving Government employee, retired or a political person”, the DB directed.
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