Many VVIPs illegally staying in govt houses

Former Union Ministers Jagdish Tytler, Renuka Chowdhury, Ram Vilas Paswan and the family of late Prime Minister V.P. Singh feature among the 20-odd persons who continue to occupy government bungalows/flats in an unauthorised manner.

Former Union Ministers Jagdish Tytler, Renuka Chowdhury, Ram Vilas Paswan and the family of late Prime Minister V.P. Singh feature among the 20-odd persons who continue to occupy government bungalows/flats in an unauthorised manner.

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The properties in possession of the persons are in the Capital’s plush areas like Gurdwara Rakab Gunj Road, Lodhi Estate, Teen Murti Marg and Janpath among others.

In a response to an RTI application, Directorate of Estates, Ministry of Urban Development, has provided a list of 22 persons occupying government properties along with the addresses.

The RTI reply also mentioned that steps like throwing goods of unauthorised occupants are taken “as and when necessary under the provisions of Public Premises Act”.

The replies included data till February 18 for the RTI filed by activist Subhash Agrawal.

While Tytler cited security reasons, Chowdhury gave health reasons for continued occupation.

“I am under Z plus security and I have already requested I should be allowed to stay,” Tytler said.

Agrawal said, “There are different yardsticks even in tackling law breaking unauthorised (VVIP) occupants of government accommodations. The government has failed to take concrete steps to get accommodations vacated from 22 encroachers even after 10 months of Lok Sabha elections and several RTI petitions, while extreme step of forceful eviction was taken in case of Shri Ramdas Athwale.”