UPA's top guns may be forced out of government houses

NEW DELHI: At least two dozen former UPA ministers are now staring at forcible eviction from government bungalows for over-staying even after the deadline.

Sources said the list of former ministers include Kapil Sibal, Jaipal Reddy, C P Joshi, Subodh Kant Sahay, Sachin Pilot, Rajeev Shukla, Chiranjeevi, Ashani Kumar, Vyalar Ravi and Jyotiraditya Scindia.

"Besides the defeated MPs even the former ministers occupying bungalows under the general pool of housing is against the rules. They were given one month's time till June 26 to vacate the bungalows. But many of them have failed to do so even as their overstay is going to be 60 days," said an urban development ministry official.

As per rules, after resigning from their ministerial posts, the former ministers (who are sitting MPs) must approach their respective House - Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha - for accommodation under their pool.

The UD official added that last year the Supreme Court had also observed that those overstaying in government accommodations should be evicted by the government and even by using reasonable force. "But we don't want such a situation and expect the former ministers vacate their accommodation immediately. Otherwise, the law will take its own course and eviction process will start," the official said.

Already many of the NDA ministers are waiting for the former ministers to vacate their bungalows so that they can move in.

In the case of defeated MPs, sources said about 130 have already moved out. The eviction process has started against the former Lok Sabha members who have refused to vacate.