Srinagar: In a significant move aimed at regulating the use of government accommodation, the Jammu and Kashmir government has issued orders for 29 politicians, including former ministers and MLAs, to vacate government bungalows in Srinagar and Jammu. This decision comes in response to an ad-interim order passed by the High Court of J&K and Ladakh in the case of Prof. S. K. Bhalla V/s UT of J&K & Others.
The court’s directive, issued on April 3, 2024, mandated the Directors of Estates in both Jammu and Srinagar to assess the occupancy of government accommodations by the listed individuals and provide specific individual orders regarding their vacating or continued allotment. The court noted that if any accommodation was to be retained, comprehensive reasons supported by evidence must be presented for judicial scrutiny.
A top official told Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com that following the court’s orders, a committee was convened under the Government Order No. 35-Est of 2016, which met on September 2, 2024, to evaluate the situation. “The committee recommended that all ex-ministers, ex-legislators, and political figures currently occupying accommodations, designated for ministers and constitutional dignitaries, must vacate these facilities immediately after the election process concludes. Alternatively, they may opt to move to private residences or be allocated alternative government housing, subject to availability, he said.
He further said that in compliance with the committee’s recommendations, the government has formally requested these politicians to vacate their government accommodations as soon as the election process is over.
Those served with notices in Srinagar, according to Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com, include prominent leaders such as Zahid Hussain Jan, SS Chani, Abdul Majid Paddar (Ex-MLA), Zaffar Iqbal Manhas (Ex-MLC), Nizam-ud-Din Bhat (Ex-MLA), Fayaz Ahmad Bhat (Ex-MP), Abdul Gani Vakil (Ex-MLA), Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen (Ex-MLA), Mohammad Abass Wani (Ex-MLA), Abdul Rahim Rather (Ex-MLA), Bashir Ahmad Dar (Ex-MLA), Mohammad Amin Bhat (Ex-MLA), Yasir Reshi (Ex-MLC), MY Tarigami (Ex-MLA), Surinder Amberdar (Ex-MLC), Sajad Gani Lone (Ex-MLA), and Raja Manzoor (Ex-MLA).
In Jammu, notices were served to 12 politicians, including former ministers and ex-MLAs.
Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Estates Department has earmarked several government bungalows in Srinagar for the Council of Ministers, in anticipation of the government formation scheduled in October 2024 and nine top officers of the J-K administration were conveyed to vacate the ministerial bungalows. (KDC)
