SC raps scribes in illegal occupation of govt accommodations

The Supreme Court was today critical of journalists who are in unauthorised occupation of government accommodations in the national capital.

"Very interestingly we are finding in the list that the longest unauthorised occupants are journalists. These are some of the people who are looked as great and learned people in public perception and in the list they are the unauthorised occupants," a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya said.

The list contains names of more than 150 people who are illegally occupying different types of government accommodations in the city. It also contains the names of members of various commissions.

The remarks were made by the bench which was perusing a list of unauthorised occupants in which a large number of journalists have also been asked to vacate the government accommodations.

The government was also pulled up by the bench for not being able to get the premises vacated despite the people living there illegally and sought response on why it had developed "cold feet" on the issue.

The bench, however, refrained from passing any order as the Additional Solicitor General A K Chandhiok was absent.

Taking strong exception to his absence in the case, the bench slapped a cost of Rs one lakh on the government but later withdrew it after the Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman made a request.

The bench has listed the case for hearing on February 4.

In the last hearing on October 10, the apex court asked the Centre to publish public notice in an English and a Hindi newspaper incorporating names of all unauthorised occupants.

"We are prima facie satisfied that that they(unauthorised occupants) do not have legal and constitutional rights to occupy the premises after their retirement," the bench had said after going through the list of unauthorised occupants placed before it by the Centre.