Should former CMs get govt bungalows? SC asks for views

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has asked law officers of the Central and state governments to offer their views on whether former presidents, prime ministers and chief ministers should continue to occupy official government bungalows.

A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi, considering the report of a senior advocate who wanted the court to expand the ambit of a petition to ban former UP CMs from occupying government bungalows, said it was necessary to hear all stakeholders because the order could impact similar legislations in other states.

“We are of the opinion that we should leave it open to the law officer(s) of the Union government and the states that may have similar legislation/executive instructions with the option of appearing before the court on the next date,” the bench said. The court did not issue any formal notice to the states or Centre, and said it was not binding on them to submit a response. It was left to them to respond to the suggestions submitted by senior advocate Gopal Subramanium.

Assisting the bench, Subramanium had supported the petitioner and said former presidents and PMs should not get government accommodation.

The court is hearing a petition filed by NGO Lok Prahari, which challenges the amendments made by the Akhilesh Yadav government to the UP Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1981.

THE COURT IS HEARING A PLEA CHALLENGING CHANGES MADE BY AKHILESH GOVT TO UP MINISTERS (SALARIES, ALLOWANCES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1981