NEW DELHI: Bureaucrats may lose their official residences if they obstruct Central Public Works Department (CPWD) from demolishing unauthorised constructions inside their houses, says a letter the government has issued following a series of complaints by engineers of the authority.
The letter, sent from the Directorate of Estates to all the ministries and department, observed that officers or allottees are using political influence to stall demolitions.
“It is understood that the allottees are also bringing pressure from political leaders to avoid the demolition process. This act of allottees has been viewed seriously by the competent authority,” the letter said.
“It has now been decided that henceforth if any allottee creates obstruction for CPWD authorities carrying out government duty of forceful demolition of unauthorised construction with/without the help of police authorities, the allotment of accommodation may be taken up for cancellation by this directorate and eviction proceedings will be initiated to evict the allottee as per the extant rules,” ministries were told by the Directorate of Estates recently.
To deal with political pressure, the directorate has decided to invoke Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules.
“If any allottee brings political pressure in this regard, the same will be dealt with accordingly as per the relevant provisions of the CCS rules,” the letter said.
Section 20 of the rules says, “No government servant shall bring or attempt to bring any political or other outside influence to bear upon any superior authority to further his interests in respect of matters pertaining to his service under the government.”
“All the allottees are advised to refrain from such activities of unauthorised construction/encroachment inside/outside of government accommodation allotted to them, failing which necessary action will be taken against the allottees,” the government letter warned.