NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to clarify whether the decision of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to frame guidelines for upkeep of bungalows in Lutyens' Bungalow Zone here was Constitutionally valid.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma directed the Additional Solicitor-General P.P. Malhotra to file a reply to the Court's query by December 16.

The Bench issued the direction when Mr. Malhotra submitted that the guidelines framed in 1996 had been sent to the PMO for amendments.

Guidelines

Upon this, the Bench observed that since framing of rules and guidelines emanates from a statute, how can the PMO frame guidelines in the instant matter as these bungalows are governed by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Act.

Observing that no one is above law whether he is a Minister or a Parliamentarian, the High Court had on October 19 ordered removal of all alterations and constructions in the bungalows allotted to Ministers, MPs, Judges and senior government officials.

The High Court had directed the Union Urban Development Ministry to remove all the illegal alterations and constructions in these bungalows within four weeks and file a status report on the action taken.

The Court has been hearing a suo motu petition on the basis of media reports about alterations and constructions carried out by certain occupants, including Ministers and MPs, of these bungalows without prior permission of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and in violation of the guidelines governing the maintenance of these bungalows.

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