New Delhi: The Central Government will provide a residence to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi within ten days. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Central Government, informed the Delhi High Court bench of Justice Sachin Dutta today. During the hearing, Mehta had sarcastically remarked that common people do not fight for a bungalow. On September 18, the High Court had stated that the decision to provide Kejriwal with a residence in Delhi cannot be made at the discretion of the administration.
The Court summoned the Director of Estates of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry. During the hearing, the lawyer representing the Central Government stated that the Aam Aadmi Party had proposed allocating the Type 8 bungalow at 35, Lodi Estate for Kejriwal’s residence, but on July 24, the bungalow was allotted to Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary. On September 16, the Court had reprimanded the Central Government for delaying a decision on the housing demand.
Provision for Allotment of Government Housing
The court observed that it appears the government is unable to decide who should be provided housing and who should not. The petition was filed by the Aam Aadmi Party. During the hearing, senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Aam Aadmi Party, stated that under the guidelines for housing allocation for political parties, there is a provision for allotment of a government residence in Delhi to the head of any recognized political party if he or she does not have a residence or is not provided housing under any other provision.
Aam Aadmi Party’s Petition
The petition stated that the Aam Aadmi Party is a recognized political party and Arvind Kejriwal is the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party. The petition stated that Kejriwal meets all the eligibility criteria for a government residence in Delhi. The petition demanded that an order be issued to provide Arvind Kejriwal with housing in central Delhi.
The petition stated that Arvind Kejriwal vacated the allotted government accommodation on October 4, 2024, after resigning as Chief Minister of Delhi. The petition stated that the Aam Aadmi Party had written to the administration on September 20, 2024, requesting Arvind Kejriwal to be provided with government accommodation in Delhi. Subsequent letters were written, but no action was taken. The petition stated that the High Court had previously ordered the Aam Aadmi Party to be allotted an office.
