New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Tuesday ordered former Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav to vacate the government bungalow occupied by him in the national capital despite being disqualified as Member of Parliament (MP) in Rajya Sabha in 2017.
According to the HC bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla, it has been more than four years since Yadav was disqualified as Rajya Sabha MP and there is no ground for him to retain the government accommodation.
The High Court has directed Yadav to vacate the bungalow within a span of 15 days, news agency PTI reported.
The ultimatum by HC comes weeks after it sought a response from the former JDU leader on the Centre's plea seeking directions for eviction of Yadav from the government bungalow, stating that he ceased to be a parliamentarian in 2017 but still holds the residence.
Announcing the order, the Delhi HC also pointed out that it was not inclined to continue with the interim order passed by a single judge bench on December 15, 2017, which allowed Yadav to avail the official perks and facilities of an MP, including the use of his official residence at Tuqhlak Road in New Delhi till the petition is decided.
However, in 2018, the Supreme Court partially modified the HC order, stating that Yadav can continue using his official accommodation but would not be entitled to salary and other benefits that are given to an MP.
In 2017, the former JDU MP had challenged the Rajya Sabha chairman's order to expel him in High Court on the ground that he was not given any chance to present his views in the House.
Yadav was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2017 and his term was scheduled to end in July 2022.
(With inputs from PTI.)