Centre wants Kejriwal to vacate official flat, sends notice

The Union urban development ministry wants former Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal to vacate his official flat in central Delhi’s Tilak Lane and has sent a notice to the Delhi government in this regard.

The Union urban development ministry wants former Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal to vacate his official flat in central Delhi’s Tilak Lane and has sent a notice to the Delhi government in this regard.

“Under the rules, a person who demits office is given 15 days to vacate the official residence. Kejriwal resigned on February 14 and he should have moved out by March 1,” a ministry official said Saturday.

The official said a notice was sent to the Delhi government — with the Capital under President’s rule, lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung is in charge of state administration — earlier this week but the ministry had not yet received a response.

Kejriwal had earlier informed officials in the Delhi government that he would be staying on at the house for a few months on account of his daughter’s Class 12 exams.

Asked about this, a ministry official said, “Mr Kejriwal can get an extension for up to four months but he would have to pay rent at the market rate. No such request for an extension has come to us.”

The going rent rate for the 1,600-square-feet three-bedroom flat is approximately Rs 60,000 per month.

“If we don’t get a reply from the Delhi government as to what they are planning to do, we will write to them again next week,” another ministry official said.