Should exCMs get govt bungalows? SC
NEW DELHI: The SC 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.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court asked the Centre and states on Wednesday to express their views on whether former Presidents, ex-Prime Ministers and former chief ministers were entitled to continue occupying government accommodation.
The apex court, hearing a challenge to the amendments to an Uttar Pradesh legislation allowing ex-chief ministers of the state to continue occupying government bungalows, left it open to the Centre and states to appear before it and express their views.
A bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R Banumathi took into account the suggestions by senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae, in this regard. “On a consideration of the views expressed by the amicus curiae, we are of the opinion that we should leave it open to the law officer(s) of the Union Government and the concerned states who may have a similar legislation/executive instructions with the option of appearing before the court on the next date fixed,” the bench said. The court fixed the matter for hearing on March 13.
The court requested the amicus to communicate a copy of its order to the office of the Attorney General or Solicitor General, as well as the advocates general of states, who might have a similar legislation like Uttar Pradesh.
The apex court observed that if the provision, which has been challenged by NGO Lok Prahari, is held invalid, then similar legislation in other states might also come under challenge.