Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Saturday vacated his official bungalow that was allotted to him after he won the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in the 2004 general elections. However, Gandhi was convicted last month for his "why all thieves share the Modi surname" remak by a Surat court and sent to two years jail. This resulted in his disqualification as MP and subsequently the Lok Sabha secretariat asked him to vacate the official residence. Rahul Gandhi has shifted his belongings to his mother Sonia Gandhi's 10 Janpath residence.
So, how are these sprawling houses allotted to ministers and top bureaucrats? When are these vacated? Is there any special requirement to be eligible to live here? Here, we answer these questions and elaborate on the Lutyens Bungalow Zone and people who can stay here.
What Is Lutyens Bungalow Zone?
The Lutyens Bungalow Zone (LBZ) is one of the poshest and most highly sought-after places in the national capital. It is spread across an area of 23.60 sq km and boasts of heritage buildings and the Central Vista. LBZ is home to India’s president, prime minister, top politicians and ultra-high net-worth individuals (UHNIs).
It has around 3,000 government-owned properties and 600 private bungalows. There are 17 types of accommodation in LBZ and 3,959 properties. Below is a table that summarises this information.
|
Type Of Accommodation |
Numbers |
|
Type-1 |
208 |
|
Type-2 |
8 |
|
Type-3 |
26 |
|
Type-4 |
872 |
|
Type-5 Flats |
699 |
|
Type-5 Bungalows |
108 |
|
Type-6 Flats |
178 |
|
Type-6 Bungalows |
152 |
|
Type-7 Flats |
125 |
|
Type-7 Bungalows |
175 |
|
Type-8 Bungalows |
166 |
|
MP flats |
424 |
|
Special type flats |
84 |
|
AB Type Bungalows |
29 |
|
B Type flats |
9 |
|
Double Suite Hostel |
304 |
|
Single Suite Hostel |
392 |
|
Total |
3959 |
It is pertinent to note that Type 7 and Type 8 are the most in-demand flats and are allotted directly by the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs on the basis of need and exigency. As of now, the government has 520 flats of these two types, which are allotted to ministers, senior officials in the V-P Secretariat, PMO, judges and other high-level officials. At present, the allotment stands as tabulated below:
|
|
Department Pool |
General Pool |
Judge HC |
Judge SC |
Total |
|
Type 7 |
194 |
95 |
29 |
1 |
319 |
|
Type 8 |
58 |
98 |
10 |
35 |
201 |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
520 |
Eligibility For Accommodation In LBZ
The entire accommodation process in LBZ is carried out by the Directorate of Estates, which is governed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The allocation is done under the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Rules, 2017. GPRA covers Central government residential accommodations under the administrative control of the DoE in Delhi and at 39 locations outside Delhi like Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh etc.
As per the official notification of the GPRA, all Central Government employees are eligible to apply for accommodation under the GPRA pool. The allotments are made according to the pay scale, office or position of the applicant.
Allotment Of Flats/Bungalows
Premium Type VII & Type VIII Bungalows
The general pool of Type VII and VIII accommodation is allotted by the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs keeping in view the functional necessity, criticality/sensitivity of the post held.
Eligibility Of Political Parties
Allotment of one house in Delhi from General Pool could be considered for use as office to national political parties recognised by the Election Commission of India. One residential accommodation would be allotted/allowed to be retained by the party president of a recognised national party provided that no other accommodation has been allotted to him/her in any other capacity.
Allotment To State-Level Parties
Allotment of one house in Vitthalbhai Patel (VP) House could be considered to recognise state-level political parties that have a minimum strength of four members in both Houses of the Parliament for office/residence.
Who Allocates Residence To MPs?
For serving Union ministers, accommodation is allotted by the DoE. House committees of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats are the competent authorities to allot accommodation to MPs.
How MPs Get Residences Allotted
In order to meet the needs of members for residential accommodation, a separate pool has been established and allotment of residences is made by the Accommodation Sub-Committee of the House Committee.
Benefits For MPs
Licence-Free Flats, Hostel But Not Bungalows
Members are entitled to a licence-fee free flat or hostel accommodation throughout their term of office. If the members are allotted housing accommodation in the form of a bungalow at their request, they shall pay full licence fee.
Water, Electricity And Other Amenities
Members are entitled to water supply without payment of charges up to 4000 kl per annum. They are eligible for electricity upto 50,000 units (25,000 units measure on light meter and 25,000 units on power meter or pooled together) per annum beginning from January 1 every year.
Other facilities include- washing of sofa covers and curtains every three months. Furniture within the monetary ceiling of Rs 60,000 in respect of durable furniture.
They are also allowed for a 25 per cent remission in the rent on account of any improvement or addition made to it or any additional service provided thereto by way of furniture, electrical equipment and other services.
Rent Of Residences In LBZ (Licence Fee)
Licence fee means a fee payable monthly in respect of the accommodation allotted under CGGPRA rules,2017. The revised flat rates of licence fee applicable for GPRA throughout the country w.e.f.01-07-2020 as follows:
|
S.No. |
Type Of Accommodation |
Range Of Livig Area (Sq M) |
Licence Fee |
|
1 |
I |
Upto 30 |
180 |
|
2 |
II |
26.5 to 50 |
370 |
|
3 |
III |
44 to 65 |
560 |
|
4 |
IV |
59 to 91.5 |
750 |
|
5 |
IV (Special) |
59 to 91.5 |
790 |
|
6 |
V A |
upto 106 |
1400 |
|
7 |
V B |
Beyond 106 |
1490 |
|
8 |
VI A |
Upto 159.5 |
1840 |
|
9 |
VI B |
Beyond 159.5 |
2200 |
|
10 |
VII |
189.5 to 224.5 |
2580 |
|
11 |
VIII |
243 to 522 |
4610 |
Revision Of Licence Fee: The normal licence fee for accommodation shall be revised every three years based on the Average All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) by the Central Government. The revised rate shall take effect from July 1 of the following year.
When To Vacate Bungalows?
The rules to vacate bungalows are very basic. The occupants should leave the bungalows or any other official property allotted to them once they seize to be on the said post. This means if someone loses the status of an MP, as in the case of Rahul Gandhi, the person becomes ineligible to retain the official accommodation. Similarly, the cabinet ministers are eligible for higher status accommodation and hence if an MP is made minister, he should vacate the present bungalow to move to new property and same goes if the status of Minister is taken away from anyone.
Occupants Overstaying In Bungalows
In answer to a question in the Rajya Sabha on April 3, 2023, the government said that seven residents are overstaying in Type VII and Type VIII bungalows without permission.
Damage Charges
The allottee is charged for damages as fixed from time to time for unauthorised period of occupation of GPRA, if any. For the period of unauthorised occupation of GPRA, the following rates of damages are charged from the unauthorized occupant:
|
Station |
Type Of Flats And Damage Rates For First Month |
||||
|
Type I to IV |
Type IV (Special) to Type VI and Hostel |
Type VII and Type VIII |
Servant Quarters |
Garages |
|
|
Delhi |
40 Times |
50 Times |
55 Times |
50 Times |
50 Times |
|
Mumbai a) Hyderabad Estate, Belvedere, Pedder Road, BD Road, Malabar Hill, Colaba and Prabhadevi |
120 Times |
120 Times
|
-- |
50 Times
|
50 Times
|
|
Rest of Mumbai including Hostel at Antop Hill |
50 Times
|
50 Times
|
-- |
50 Times
|
50 Times
|
|
Stations |
Type I to IV |
Type V and above and Hostel |
Type VII and Type VIII |
Servant Quarters |
Garages |
|
Stations other than Delhi and Mumba |
40 Times |
50 Times
|
-- |
50 Times
|
50 Times
|
As per a report in Hindustan Times, in July 2020, the upper house of Parliament decided to impose heavy fines on those who were illegally occupying accommodation. The charges were up to Rs 10.78 lakh per month.
The move came a year after Parliament cleared a legislation - Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2019- for speedy eviction of unauthorised occupants of government accommodation.
The lowest compensation was Rs 63,500 in the first month for type V flat, the smallest government accommodation in Lutyens Delhi. Then for each subsequent month, the charges will increase and can reach Rs 3.17 lakh for the eighth month, the circular said, reported HT.
It added that overstaying in a type VIII bungalow, the biggest and the best, will attract a penalty of Rs 2.15 lakh in the first month or 55 per cent of the license fee.
Number Of Unsafe Bungalows
In an answer in the Lok Sabha in 2017, the Central government informed that as per the assessment made by Central Public Works Department (CPWD), 708 old bungalows in Lutyens Bungalow Zone (LBZ) are considered structurally unsafe against earthquake forces.
It added that razing / refurbishment / replacement of such bungalows are considered in a phased manner.