The Hindu : National : Stay on allotment of bungalows vacated

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Friday, Nov 10, 2006
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Stay on allotment of bungalows vacated

Legal Correspondent

"If allotment is not done properly, we have to intervene"

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday vacated the interim stay restraining the Union Urban Development Ministry from allotting any vacant Type VIII Government bungalows meant for Ministers, top bureaucrats and apex court judges without its permission.

A Bench of Justice B.N. Agrawal and Justice P.P. Naolekar lifted the stay during the course of hearing of a case relating to non-allotment of accommodation to the Chairman of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal.

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Saran told the Bench, "offers of allotment of accommodation are executive functions guided by transparent and rationale criteria" and the court should not interfere in such functions.

He submitted that allotment of bungalows was not the function of the Supreme Court.

`Allotment not our job'

The Bench said: "Allotment is not our job but if the allotment is not done properly, we have to intervene."

However, accepting Mr. Saran's submissions, the Bench vacated the order of interim stay passed on September 6.

In its reply, the Centre said 27 Type VIII bungalows were placed at the disposal of the Supreme Court Judges Pool. At present, 170 dignitaries (other than judges) were waiting for allotment of Type VIII bungalows, including five Cabinet Ministers and 32 Ministers of State entitled for such accommodation.

The Centre said the Government had recognised the necessity of sufficient and suitable accommodation for Supreme Court judges.

However, in view of the non-availability of any vacant Type VIII accommodation at present, it was not possible to exchange Supreme Court Judges Pool bungalows with general pool bungalows.

It pleaded for vacating the interim order so that the Government could make allotments to the dignitaries.

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