Activist files affidavit in HC seeking ouster of former CM’s from government bunglows
Human rights activist Avdhesh Kaushal today filed an affidavit in Uttarakhand High Court for early hearing and disposal of his petition seeking eviction of five former CMs of the state occupying government bungalows here.
“I have filed an affidavit in the High Court through my counsel seeking early hearing and disposal of my petition seeking a direction from the court to five former CMs of Uttarakhand who occupy huge government bungalows in Dehradun despite owning houses of their own in the city and elsewhere including Lucknow and Delhi,” said Kaushal, who runs an NGO named Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK)
“It is a drain on the state exchequer as former chief ministers have been occupying these accommodations free of cost for years despite demitting their offices besides enjoying other facilities,” he said.
The activist said it was hard to accept this at a time when important constitutional offices like the State Human Rights Commission office was housed in a rented accommodation in the city for which it has to pay a monthly rent of Rs 1.20 lakh.
Former Uttarakhand CMs named in Kaushal’s petition are Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Vijay Bahuguna.
Citing the instances of N D Tiwari and Vijay Bahuguna, the activist said both of the leaders own big houses of their own in different cities.
“While Tiwari owns a house each in Dehradun, Lucknow and Delhi, Bahuguna owns six flats in Delhi as per an affidavit filed before the returning officer for 2012 state assembly elections,” he said.
The RLEK chief said he was hopeful of the Uttarakhand High Court endorsing the apex court’s judgment in this regard.
