An inability to get a house allotted to themselves in the Capital’s VIP zones and the Lutyens bungalow area is causing heartburns for many a bureaucrats, and the Urban Development ministry as well.

Reason: junior officers in the government till date got bulk of the elite addresses allotted, by citing “medical reasons”.

As a result, senior bureaucrats kept on the waiting list are an angry lot.

To address the issue, the Directorate of Estates, responsible for allotting houses to ministers, judges, Rajya Sabha MPs and bureaucrats living in Delhi, has issued strict guidelines on allotment of bungalows in prime localities. A circular issued by the Directorate last month now mandates that allotment to officers of IAS and DANICS (Delhi state officers) cadre will no longer be made in the Lutyens Bungalow Zone and other sought-after areas like Chanakyapuri and Bapa Nagar.

The circular says: “Due to paucity of units in higher types, of late it is seen that medical ground has become a soft route to procure allotment of accommodation of a category the concerned officer is not likely to get in his turn in near future. This is resulting in junior officers getting higher types of accommodation on medical grounds while seniors are waiting for years.

“This practice has become a cause of concern for officers waiting to get 2-3 types below their entitlement on their regular turn.”

The Directorate of Estates had so far given preference to officers with family member or those suffering from some ailment.

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