NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Dec, 12th took exception to former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting H.K.L. Bhagat continuing to occupy 34, Prithvi Raj Road on the basis of his being in the Z Plus security category, despite having ceased to be a Minister six years ago. “Why does he need a palace because of this reason? Why can’t he basified to a compact security block (probably, a multistory flat) which the Union Minister for Urban Development has indicated as the suitable place to which such a category of persons should be shifted?” Justice Kuldip Singh remarked.
The petition sought the court’s intervention on the misuse of discretionary funds. The two judges also asked Additional Solicitor General K.T.S, Tulsi to produce, within two weeks, files relating to 150 occupants of Government houses from whom dues worth Rs 1.5 crore had been waived by the Cabinet Committee on Accommodation (CAA).
Heading the list of those whose dues had been written off was Mr. Bhagat, from whom payment of Rs 23 lakh has been waived.
In addition, the two judges were told that the CAA had decided to continue with the Government accommodation for Pandit Ravi Shankar because he was an outstanding artiste, despite the Supreme Court’s advice that such personalities did not need Government assistance.
Other notable personalities figuring in the list of those favored with similar waivers were H.N, Sharma, PS to former Prime Minister Chandrasekhar (Rs3.86 lakh), widow of former President Giani Zail Singh (Rs 2.47 lakh), former Chief Minister of Maharashtra ‘Sharad Pawar (Rs 1.13 lakh), the then ‘Ambassador of India to Afghanistan Vijay Nambiar (Rs one lakh) and Congress MP Vyjayantimala Bali (Rs 79.961)
Article extracted from this publication >> December 15, 1995
