The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the government to consider allotting a suitable bungalow to Congress MP Kumari Selja for which she is entitled, former union minister saying she would vacate her present larger bungalow by September 16. A bench of justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Rajiv Shakdher, asked the Centre to see if Selja can be allotted single-storey type-VII bungalow.
The court has fixed the matter for September 7, when it will pass an appropriate order on their appeal against the single judge decision.
Meanwhile, the court was informed that Selja will move out of her present house by September 16 and stay at a transit accommodation till the time she is given a single-storey type- VII bungalow. Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Centre, said that Selja should not have a wish-list and whatever she is entitled to, will be given to her.
The bench observed there was no problem with senior Congress MP Ambika Soni's house as she has been alloted type- VII bungalow at 84, Lodhi Estate in central Delhi. The bench asked Soni's counsel to give list of the work she wants to be done in the bungalow she will be shifting soon.
Both the Congress leaders had on August 18 informed the High Court they had no problem vacating their larger type-VIII bungalows and move to type-VII quarters, to which they were entitled. The court was hearing the appeals filed by both MPs, challenging a single-judge order of July 30 dismissing their pleas against the Centre's direction to evict them from type-VIII bungalows in Lutyens' Delhi. Costs of Rs 25,000 each was also imposed on them.
The MPs, in their plea, had submitted that they were not saying they were entitled to larger accommodation but their contention was how the estate office could set aside an allotment made by the House Committee.
