Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 12: Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president and former Minister, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, has been directed by the Estates Department to vacate Government accommodation by April 15 or else face eviction.
Deputy Director Estates in a notice (under No: DDES/Pvt/house/2016/683-84) issued here directed Mir to vacate the accommodation by or before April. “Whereas, the Estates Department vide Govt. order no. 68-Est of 2015 dt. 13/5/2015 had provided residential accommodation to you at House No. D-2 Friends Enclave belonging to Mufti Fahrad Aziz in the capacity of former Minister/ legislator,” the notice reads.
“Whereas, the said accommodation was provided to you for a specified period of time after which allotment was to be got renewed and the outstanding on account of rent/ license fee was to be cleared as per the rules on the subject. Whereas, your allotment of the said accommodation has expired on 10/2015 and even there is an outstanding of Rs. 46200 as rent/license fee against you upto ending 3/2016 and as per rules on the subject you have become unauthorized occupant…,” the notice served by the Estates Department reads.
The Deputy Director in the notice has invoked a judgment of State High Court with regard to constitution of a committee to review the threat perception to a person who is under security cover before directing him to vacate the government accommodation.
“Whereas, some Former Hon’ble Ministers/ Legislators preferred writ petitions before the High Court and the Court vide common judgment dated 01-05-2015 has been pleased to observer as under: “…state Government shall constitute a committee headed by Additional Director General of Police, Security and comprising of District Magistrate, Srinagar Director Estate, Superintendent of Police Srinagar and any other member co-opted by Additional Director General of Police, security to make an objective assessment of threat perception of each of petitioners and in the said background need to allow petitioner to retain present government accommodation in their use or to provide alternate Govt./ hired accommodation. The committee shall allow petitioner to put-their stand either in person or through their representative including written representations.”
“The committee shall also examine the security cover or number of security personnel required by petitioners so that they and their dependent family members are not exposed to any threat or risk…”
The Estates Department said in terms of the High Court direction, the Govt. vide order No. 240-Estof 2015 dt. 16-11-2015 constituted a committee headed by ADGP (Security) to examine various issues related to this subject and submit its recommendation to Government in Estates Government. “Whereas, the said Committee after due deliberations submitted its report to the Government in Estates Department on 19-12-2015,” it said.
“Pursuant to the recommendation of the Committee so constituted in terms of order passed by High Court, a conscious decision has been taken by the Government as a matter of policy to give you advance intimation, so that you can make your own alternate arrangement,” the notice reads.
Now, therefore, in compliance to the aforesaid direction mentioned supra coupled with policy decision of the Government in conformity with the recommendation of the committee, you are hereby informed to vacate the Govt/ private hired accommodation provided to you by the Estates Department by or before 15th April, 2016 failing which action as warranted under rules shall be taken in the matter without any further notice, solely at your own risk and responsibility, the Estates Department notice adds.
When contacted, Mir told Excelsior that the time given to him by Government to vacate the Estates accommodation is “insufficient”. “Instead of April 15 deadline; the Government should have given me at least 1 month time so that I would have been able to arrange alternate residence,” he said.
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