The Centre has initiated eviction proceedings against the Congress over a house in the Chanakyapuri locality of the national capital, which had been allotted to it as an office, with the Directorate of Estates under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry sending a show cause notice last week.
According to the notice sent to the “All-India Congress Committee” (AICC) on March 25, the allotment of C-II/109, Chanakyapuri had been cancelled with effect from June 26, 2013 and communicated to the AICC on January 22, 2015. The directorate asked for a response within three days as to why an eviction order should not be passed for the “unauthorised” occupation of public premises.
A Ministry official said the party had been allotted four government bungalows, including 24, Akbar Road, which houses its headquarters, for its offices as a national party. As per a policy of the Land and Development Office under the Ministry, the Congress was allotted land on Rouse Avenue to construct its own office in 2010 and had three years after that to vacate any government bungalow given to it as an office.
While the eviction proceedings have been initiated for the Chanakyapuri property, the same policy would apply to the other bungalows allotted to national parties, including the Congress’ 24, Akbar Road office and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) old headquarters at 11, Ashoka Road, which it has retained despite constructing its own office on Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg, the official confirmed. The official said “damage charges” of approximately ₹3 crore could be levied on the Congress for over-staying at the Chanakyapuri property.
A senior Congress leader familiar with the development said the party had received similar notices in the past and was in the process of vacating the Chanakyapuri house. Personal secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Vincent George, had lived at the house earlier, sources said.
Meanwhile, officials said an eviction drive was planned for April 4 to vacate 27, Safdarjung Road, where former Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ resides. On Friday, the directorate concluded vacating 12, Janpath, the house that was allotted to the late Ram Vilas Paswan and where his family had continued to stay after his death in 2020, officials said.
