Raghav Chadha Bungalow Row: Delhi HC Sets Aside Trial Court Order Allowing Eviction Of AAP MP
The Rajya Sabha secretariat had earlier cancelled the allotment of Raghav Chadha's government bungalow, leading the AAP Rajya Sabha MP to approach the court.
The Delhi High Court has set aside a trial court order that allowed the Rajya Sabha secretariat to evict AAP MP Raghav Chadha from his official bungalow. Chadha had earlier appealed in Delhi High Court in response to a Patiala House court directive to vacate a type-VII bungalow on Pandora Road. The Rajya Sabha secretariat had cancelled the allotment, leading Chadha to call it an "arbitrary" decision.
The disputed bungalows, designated for lawmakers with ministerial, chief ministerial, or gubernatorial experience, are at the center of a courtroom drama. Additional District Judge Sudhanshu Kaushik of Patiala House Courts had previously advised the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to follow proper legal channels before evicting Chadha.
Chadha slammed the abrupt cancellation and the absence of a notice and called it an "unprecedented" move in the history of Rajya Sabha. He alleged a a political motive behind the cancellation and said that the BJP orchestrated the eviction to stifle dissenting voices within Parliament.
The AAP MP, already facing suspension, accused the ruling party of a targeted campaign against Parliamentarians who spoke against the ruling party. He deemed the interference a new low in politics driven by vendettas.
In response to the earlier rejection of his argument regarding the irrevocability of accommodation once allocated, Chadha pointed out similar instances among his fellow MPs. Approximately half of Rajya Sabha members were reportedly residing in accommodations exceeding their entitlement.
Chadha had vowed to continue advocating for the people of Punjab and India, emphasizing that he would not be silenced by challenges or costs. The legal wrangling is far from over, as the court recalled its earlier interim order, stating that due legal procedures were not followed. The court suggested re-filing the case after complying with the necessary legal requirements, prolonging the legal saga surrounding Chadha's official residence.
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