An issue facing the govt has been both the rules and the status of (unauthorised?) occupation of govt. accommodation. For example, at least in J&K and in UP, all erstwhile CMs, of whichever party, were allowed to retain their houses (in Srinagar and Lucknow) for their lifetime. This included our present Defense Minister who was UP CM in 2000-2002. It was in 2020(?) that these rules were amended and they had all to move out. Obviously the ex-CMs (of the Opposition) are more than just bugged.
Then eminent personalities – journalists, artistes etc. had been given houses for a limited period of a few years - three years I believe. But quite a few overstayed for several decades, in a few cases families have remained in occupation even after the death of the allotees. 27 of them, served eviction notice in 2015, were again asked to vacate by 31/12/20. They have termed it as inhuman in the time of the pandemic, harassment, humiliation etc. And have again obtained a stay!!!
Others are ex-MPs, retired bureaucrats (IAS, IPS) and other govt employees - the numbers ran into a few thousands. There were continuous efforts to get them to vacate. In 2019, the eviction law was amended to ease the process; present number is around 500.
Narendra Modi is criticised since these personalities also have family members who are powerful too. And vocal. Eg Nandita Das, the film personality, is the daughter of Jatin Das the painter. And each successful eviction generally means one more enemy made.
The courts have been repeatedly pulling up the Centre - both the earlier UPA and the present NDA govts. Yet it is these courts which accept the request for grant of stays. There is also criticism of the govt. for not increasing the number of houses available for allotment to artistes, but no demand or pressure for the existing squatters to vacate.
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2 comments:
From RG: depressing too
Why depressing. Getting rid of wrongs is never easy - see the farmer (sic) protests currently on. I have also read an article demanding / criticising the govt for not increasing the number of houses for artistes - presently there are just 40 of which 27 are with the squatters. But I have not found anything demanding evictions so that these houses can be allotted to deserving struggling artistes.
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