Govt houses bone of contention for babus

Getting a government accommodation of their choice — which they are entitled to during their posting in the Capital — has become a bone of contention between the central and Delhi government babus and the Union urban development ministry.

Getting a government accommodation of their choice — which they are entitled to during their posting in the Capital — has become a bone of contention between the central and Delhi government babus and the Union urban development ministry.

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According to the rules for allotment of government residences, officials employed in eligible offices, either with the central government or Delhi administration — who is required to live in Delhi — is entitled to government accommodation under the “General Pool” category.

But, more often than not, despite their eligibility and long wait, officials do not get the accommodation of their choice as the houses under the general pool are allotted without authorisation to Members of Parliament (MPs).

This is not only against the guidelines framed by the government for these accommodations, but also blatantly violates a Supreme Court order, say the aggrieved government officials.

According to a 1999 Supreme Court order, no provision was made for the allotment of house from the general pool to MPs, as they have a separate pool.

The apex court had also directed the government to frame guidelines for discretionary or out-of-turn allotment. Subsequent to the court order, the guidelines for these discretionary allottment of general pool accommodation in Delhi were made, which clearly stated that there is no provision for allotment to MPs from the said category in Delhi.

“However, the urban development ministry continuously allots houses from the general pool on out-of-turn basis, while babus with more than 25 to 30 years of service as Class-I officers wait their turn without any hope. Several MPs have been obliged over the rights of the babus,” says an official who does not want to be named.

UD Ministry officials admit that there might be some cases of former MPs occupying general pool accommodation arbitrarily, but by and large rules are being followed.

“In fact, it was to stop any kind of human interference that we have automated the entire system of allotment for types 4S (for MPs), 5A, 5B and 6A (for Class-I, IAS and IPS officers,” said a ministry official who was not authorised to talk to the media.