Illegal occupants: SC pulls up Centre

“If you fail to act we will issue notice to the (Lok Sabha) Speaker,” a Bench comprising Justices B N Aggrawal and P P Naolekar said refusing to accept arguments put forth by Government counsel Wasim Qadri.

During the hearing of a petition seeking eviction of all such unauthorised occupants— Government servants as well as legislators—the Bench was apparently not satisfied with an affidavit filed by the Government. It noted that it had failed to furnish a response with regard to unauthorised occupation of 30 quarters allotted to MPs under the legislators’ pool.

Giving another chance, the Bench asked it to file within six weeks a detailed affidavit on such houses that have been illegally occupied and the steps taken for recovering penal rents from those evicted.

Asserting its stand, the court said Government officials in occupation of such accommodation must be suspended and their properties and bank FDRs be attached.

The apex court also did not spare Bihar as its counsel could not explain the whereabouts of 180 people who the Government claimed were evicted.