SC raps UP over illegal occupants of govt quarters

Taking a stringent stance against those unauthorisedly occupying Government bungalows, the Supreme Court on Tuesday slammed the state of Uttar Pradesh for its “failure” to act against defaulters.

Taking a stringent stance against those unauthorisedly occupying Government bungalows, the Supreme Court on Tuesday slammed the state of Uttar Pradesh for its “failure” to act against defaulters.

“We are not bothered about the change of Government. Let it be Mayawati or anybody, nobody is above law,” remarked the Bench comprising Justices B N Aggrawal and P P Naolekar during the marathon hearing of a case which is monitoring steps taken by several states to evict unauthorised occupants.

Meanwhile, high drama unfolded with retired Additional District Judge P K Agnihotri strongly opposing the contention that he was unauthorisedly occupying a Government accommodation in Lucknow since 1986.

As the former judicial officer questioned the court’s remark to the state counsel to proceed as per law against him, the Bench asked, “Will you remain there generation after generation? You must first vacate or we will ask the police to throw you out.”

After Agnihotri claimed he was under valid possession as per orders of the appellate court since the Government was accepting monthly rental from him, the court asked him to vacate the accommodation by December 31, 2007 or “else the authorities will proceed under the Pension Rules (to stop the pension) or may be free to initiate criminal prosecution under section 441 IPC”, it directed.