PWD officials face FIR for renting out staff quarters

“This is the first case where FIRs are being registered,” an official said.

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“These officials working in various state government departments have leased out government quarters and are staying at some other locations. We have issued them notices through their departments and will register FIRs against them for misuse of government property,” said a senior PWD official.

The issue of government officials overstaying and not vacating official quarters was raised in the recently concluded monsoon session of the state Assembly by MLA Bhimrao Tapkir.

Pune’s divisional commissioner and district collector have powers for allotment of official quarters and eviction as well.

While 14 officials have been issued notices for leasing out their quarters to tenants, another 57 officials have been issued notice for overstaying. “Of class one officials, the eviction process is nearly complete. In the remaining cases, notices have been issued but the eviction is yet to be carried out,” officials said.
There are nearly 1,000 government quarters in Yerwada and Camp area (Queen’s Garden). The demand for such quarters is huge, with nearly 30 officials waiting for every quarter. The district administration has decided to clear the pendency and get the quarters vacated.

The issue first came to limelight with a recent eviction notice issued to IPS officer Ajay Kumar Jain, who was made to vacate his government quarters. It was later found that several other officials had been overstaying for more than two years in these quarters. mainly in Maval and Gulmohar quarters in Camp and Queen’s Garden.

According to rules, officials who are transferred can retain their official quarters for the first three months since their transfer for a nominal rent, after which the district administration charges Rs 35 per square feet as penalty.

Such officials are entitled to only two extensions of three months each.