Buta Singh,153 others get SC notice for illegal occupation

The bench said continued illegal occupancy of government property was making it “difficult” for allotting such premises to the members of different tribunals. “The Central government is facing problems due to acute shortage of accommodation required to be made available to heads of tribunals,judicial and other institutions. Due to their continued occupancy,the government finds it difficult to allot accommodation. That’s why the Prime Minister’s Office had circulated a letter that no general pool accommodation was available for tribunal members,” the bench said.

The court has asked the 154 occupants to explain by December 5 as to why they should not be evicted from these properties,which they were supposed to vacate after their due entitlement of occupation in the light of their services with the government.

It asked the Centre to get public notices printed in newspapers,disclosing names of all the unauthorised occupants,which included journalists,officials of the SC,and various other government departments.

As Additional Solicitor General A S Chandhiok submitted the list containing the names of senior journalists,former IPS and IFS officers,who continued occupying the premises beyond the dates of their entitlement,the court expressed its surprise and asked why the police were not used to forcefully vacate the houses. At this,the ASG responded that the government could not do much due to pendency of their cases.