Illegal occupation: Six of 8 retired officials vacate

After DNA highlighted illegal occupation of government flats by retired officers, six of the eight IAS and IPS officers have vacated the flats in South Mumbai.

However, two retired government officers—R Ramesh Kumar and Ramanand Tiwari- are still staying at the government flats citing technical grounds.

Ramesh Kumar is expected to be re-appointed on a government post, while in Tiwari’s case the rules are not clear on the accommodation of the suspended officers.

Tiwari was suspended from the service as information commissioner on January 20, 2011 for his alleged involvement in the Adarsh scam. There is no clarity on rules related to accommodation of the suspended officers.

An official from Mantralaya said that they have sought an opinion from the law and judiciary department on the same.

Ramesh Kumar said, “I have moved the court against the government regarding my appointment in the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal after my retirement was revoked arbitrarily. Court has upheld my contention and I am expecting my appointment very soon. There is no point in moving out.”

He occupies a 1,750 sq ft flat in Yashodhan at Churchgate with the dues till August 2011 amounting to Rs2.67 lakh.

Pasricha, who had occupied a 1,750sqft flat at Malabar Hill even after retiring in November 2007 as director general of police, vacated the flat on November 1, 2011.  

Former state chief information commissioner Suresh Joshi, former additional chief secretary Chandra Iyengar, information commissioner DB Deshpande, former secretary CS Sangirao and former IPS officer Bipinkumar Singh too vacated the official residences in the last couple of weeks.

All of them have paid the dues soon after vacating their flats.

“There was a series of meetings held by general administrative and public works department after the list was published in the DNA.

The officials vacated the flats within days after that,” said an official from the Mantralaya.