Will allot home to AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal in 10 days: Centre to Delhi High Court

It states, “One residential accommodation would be allotted/allowed to be retained by the party president of a recognised national party, provided that no other accommodation has been allotted to him/her in any other capacity”.

In a fresh affidavit filed by the Centre on September 24, it stated that the guidelines of July 2014 issued by the Directorate of Estates (DoE) “do not confer the right of allotment of a particular type of accommodation from General Pool to a recognised National Political Party.”

Mehta said Thursday, “Petitioner (AAP’s convenor Kejriwal) will be provided appropriate accommodation within 10 days…whatever is entitlement, we will provide.”

Kejriwal has, however, insisted on a Type VII or Type VIII bungalow.

Appearing on Kejriwal’s behalf, Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, along with Advocate Prateek Chadha, emphasised before the court, “Historically, it has always been Type VII (bungalow allotted to national party convenors) … Today, they can’t relegate me to a Type VI. What is appropriate? I want specifics… I’m not the favoured one, I’m not the BSP for you… but please be fair in your policy…”

The court, however, orally expressed that it will pass an order, recording SG Mehta’s statement and disposing of the petition. “There’s another aspect, the practices of the ministry (in allotment of bungalows) have to be improved… This is a recurring problem, not only for politicians,” the court also orally remarked to the Centre.

Type I to Type VI bungalows, and some from the pool of Type VII bungalows, are allotted to Central government employees through an open bidding system. Meanwhile, Type VIII bungalows are reserved for ministers, and are allotted based on the government’s discretionary powers. Judges of the Supreme Court, as well as the Delhi High Court, are also allotted residences from the pool of Type VIII bungalows.