SC raps centre over eviction from bungalows

The Centre on Thursday came under criticism from the Supreme Court for adopting a "pick and choose" policy while evicting unauthorised occupants of government bungalows and failing to provide residential accommodation to those who required it urgently.

The Centre on Thursday came under criticism from the Supreme Court for adopting a "pick and choose" policy while evicting unauthorised occupants of government bungalows and failing to provide residential accommodation to those who required it urgently.

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Threatening to stay the functioning of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), constituted to adjudicate cases related to environment, the SC slammed the government for letting former Union minister and Bihar governor Buta singh stay in government accommodation despite being ineligible for it.

Singh's three-year term as the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste ended in 2010. He should have vacated the bungalow 11-A at Teen Murti Marg then.

However, Singh continues to remain in occupation. Before the SC, the Centre has justified his unauthorised possession, saying he was facing serious threat.

"There is no nexus between security threat and government accommodation," the bench of justice GS Singhvi and justice SJ Mukopadhaya said.