The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on the Centre for allotting and regularising a government bungalow to former Bihar Governor Buta Singh.
A Bench of Justice G S Singhvi and Justice Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhya observed that a policy of pick and choose was adopted for allotting government accommodation.
The Bench was hearing a petition regarding the non-availability of accommodation to the members of the National Green Tribunal.
Justice Mukhopadhya said, “Government property has to be allotted in accordance with the law.”
When the counsel representing Buta Singh told the Bench that his client was allotted the bungalow because of the threat perception in view of Operation Blue Star, the Bench said, “So many people face a threat from Naxalites. Our country is a target of terrorism. A large number of persons have security threat. You have limited number of houses.”
The apex court questioned the rationale behind the Centre’s decision to regularise the allotment of 11-a Teen Murti Marg to Buta Singh, whose three-year tenure as chairman of the National Commission for ScheduledCastes ended in 2010. “Why was this allotment regularised in favour of one gentleman?” the Bench asked Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra.
The SC felt that some persons were targeted and all unauthorised occupants were not treated at par in the eviction procedure. “You have adopted a policy of pick and choose on the basis of the colour of the skin. You did not follow the rule of law,” the Bench added.
The SC had earlier issued show-cause notices to all the unauthorised occupants asking them to explain why they should not be evicted. The Bench passed an interim order directing that the notices issued earlier irrespective of the pendency of the proceedings shall remain stayed till the matter is heard in detail. The Centre shall not vacate these persons, it said.