SC asks former U.P. CMs to exit govt. bungalows

• MAKING RULES CLEAR: One of the bungalows in Lutyens’ Delhi. Only former Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Prime Ministers can be provided bungalows for their lifetime unless backed by a specific statutory provision, the Supreme Court held on Monday.

• The court said bungalows were maintained at a great cost to the exchequer and not meant to be “frittered away”. Allowing former Chief Ministers and their families stay on indefinitely in public properties was “largesse”, the court observed.

• The court observed that any allotment of residential bungalows not made in accordance with a statutory provision must be discontinued and treated as cancelled. The State shall take possession of the premises “as soon as possible and at the same time, recover appropriate rent”.