Srinagar: In a move to vacate the government accommodations held by former legislators in J&K , the administration has issued eviction orders asking them to vacate the houses amid the Covid-19 pandemic.  The Estates Department, which is the custodian of the government buildings, has served eviction notices to all former legislators who are still residing in government accommodation in Kashmir. ALSO READ | Coronavirus: Over 17K Cases in 24 Hours For The First Time In India; Overall Tally Tops 4.9 Lakh

Officials of the Estates Department said the eviction notices have been served to all former legislators in the erstwhile state assembly. “All former legislators have been asked to vacate official residences immediately. We have received orders from higher authorities to vacate all these leaders from official residences. All those who are not in government have to vacate the official residences,” the official said.

“So far PDP leader and former MLC Naeem Akhtar have vacated the government accommodation. After serving the notice to him, he handed over keys of the quarter to concerned officials,” the official added.

The official, however, said he was not aware whether similar notices have been served to BJP leaders who are residing in government quarters.

PDP leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar had left the official residence in Srinagar’s Gupkar Road on Thursday hours after the notice was served to him.

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Director Estates J&K, Subash Chibber said he was out of the station. “Officials in Srinagar might have taken the decision. A senior official of the Estates Department in Srinagar confirmed that eviction notices have been served to former legislators.

Meanwhile, India has recorded over 17,000 fresh cases in a day taking the total number of cases closer to 5 lakh-mark. The 17,296 new cases jump is the biggest single-day spike for India so far. Over 400 fatalities have been reported in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the total number of Coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir has touched 6,549.