36 ex-MPs still in govt bungalows

 
The RTI application was filed by a Delhi-based activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal, who had asked for the list of unauthorised occupants in government accommodation, including those parliamentarians who had lost in the 2009 elections. In its reply to the query, the urban development ministry’s estate department said it has prepared a list of 36 “unauthorised occupants of general pool bungalows”, including many high profile former parliamentarians.

British practice
Agrawal said these former MPs should take inspiration from Shabana Azmi, who went to attend her last day in Rajya Sabha after vacating her government-allotted bungalow. “They should also take lesson from healthy tradition in Britain where new Prime Minister enters his official residence at 10 Downing Street (London) just after taking oath, because the outgoing Prime Minister immediately vacates it after quitting as Prime Minister,” he added. He said the apex court should ask other courts not to be soft towards petitions requesting permission to retain government accommodation when not entitled to it.

“Apart from amending Section 441 (criminal trespass) of Indian Penal Code as suggested by the apex court, the government can stop pensions of retired parliamentarians for overstaying, apart from disqualifying them from contesting elections or having some official post like of governor or chairperson of a commission,” Agarwal said.