New Delhi (PTI): The Centre's opposition to amending the criminal law to enable jailing those unauthorisedly occupying government accommodation, evoked a strong rebuke from the Supreme Court which directed the Union Cabinet to reconsider the matter.

"Take it seriously. We know how to deal with the matter. If you can't take a decision we can pass the direction," a three-judge bench of Justices B N Aggrawal, H S Bedi and G S Singhvi observed.

The Government's plea that only a minuscule ".03 per cent of persons are defaulters" only further infuriated the bench.

"The Government does not want to act because big bosses are involved. They will be affected and you don't want them to be jailed," Justice Aggrawal speaking for the bench observed.

The apex court made it clear that it wanted the Government's answer only through "Union Cabinet"and not any "Secretary-level decision".