Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra has taken legal action against the Centre’s eviction notice, approaching the Delhi High Court to contest the directive to vacate the government bungalow allotted to her as a Member of Parliament. The move follows her expulsion from the Lok Sabha last month on grounds of unethical conduct.
Ms. Moitra’s lawyers have argued that, as a candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, she is entitled to retain her residence from the last day of the Parliament session before a general election until the day of the results. They emphasize that this provision should apply to Ms. Moitra, given her status as a candidate.
The eviction notice, issued by the Directorate of Estates, warned of the “use of force” if Ms. Moitra does not vacate the premises willingly. The Centre asserted that she had been given ample opportunity to comply but failed to prove that she is not an unauthorized occupant.
This is not the first time Ms. Moitra has sought legal recourse. Previously, the Delhi High Court had instructed her to request the Directorate of Estates to allow her to stay in the bungalow temporarily. The court acknowledged the rules permitting authorities to permit a resident to overstay for up to six months under exceptional circumstances, with the payment of certain charges. However, the court refrained from making observations on the merits of the case and allowed Ms. Moitra to withdraw her petition.
The eviction order specifies that if Ms. Moitra chooses to challenge the notice in any court, she will be liable to pay damages for every month she remains in the premises.
Occupying a bungalow in Delhi’s Telegraph Lane, Ms. Moitra received the eviction notice on December 11, shortly after her expulsion from the Lok Sabha. The Directorate of Estates instructed her to vacate the premises by January 7. Ms. Moitra had previously requested an extension until the Lok Sabha polls, citing potential hindrance to her campaign efforts if she were to lose her government accommodation.
Ms. Moitra’s expulsion from the Lok Sabha in December resulted from a Parliamentary panel finding her guilty of unethical conduct, including accepting expensive gifts from a businessman and sharing her Parliament login credentials with him. The legal battle over the eviction notice is now set to unfold in the Delhi High Court, as Ms. Moitra contends the grounds for her removal from the government accommodation.
Sources By Agencies
