Anti Corruption Council of India v. The Head of the Department Directorate of Estates and Anr.

1. Learned counsel for the respondent No.1 submitted that with regard to 565 Government accommodations which were unauthorizedly occupied, all have been vacated, except those where stay of the competent Court is operating. It is also submitted that, until now, ₹3.17 crores have been 2020:DHC:2888-DB recovered from the unauthorized occupants. However, an amount of ₹9.40 crores is yet to be recovered and all efforts are being made for expeditious recovery. Paragraphs 8 and 10 of the affidavit dated 31st August, 2020 read as under:- “8. That it is respectfully submitted that out of the 565 flats, listed in Annexure-2 to the Affidavit filed on 21.11.2019 as under unauthorized occupation by the officials, the status of vacation of the accommodation by the officials are as under: - S.NO.

1. Accommodations vacated 273 403 412

2. Accommodations Re-allotted / Retention given / Date of Retirement extended 28 73 75

3. Accommodations in respect of which litigation is pending in various Courts with stay 11 13 13

4. Accommodations occupied by Kashmiri Migrants [The policy pertaining to Kashmiri Migrants is under examination by this Hon‟ble Court in W.P. 3908/2018 and this Hon‟ble Court has been pleased to grant a 55 55 55 stay to the Petitioners therein vide order dated 20.04.2018]

5. Accommodations identified in Department Pool 7 8 8

6. Accommodations in respect of which Eviction orders / Notices have been passed / issued as per the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act,

1971. 195 13 2

7. Total 565 565 565 xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx

10. That it is respectfully submitted that as per the Government Accommodation Management System (GAMS) an amount of Rs.24.78 crore approx. was due against 565 officials on 21.11.2019. However, after 21.11.2019, additional damages to the tune of Rs.4.45 crore accumulated. Thus, total dues to be recovered are Rs.29.23 crore. Thereafter, with efforts made by the Directorate of Estates, as mentioned in para 8 above, the dues against the officials are updated in the cases of retention/regularisation, re-allotment, rectification in date of possession/vacation and reconciliation of Department Pool and houses under litigation. The dues of Rs.29.23 crore has got reduced to Rs.12.57 crore. Out of this, Rs.3.17 crore has been recovered. Thus, now the dues to be recovered as on date are Rs.9.40 crore approximately for which all efforts are being made for fast recovery.”

2. Learned counsel for respondent No.1 further submitted that notices have already been issued for recovery of the outstanding amount; however, in a few matters, stay has been granted by the competent Court. The concerned advocates have been instructed for preferring necessary applications for vacation of stay so that the outstanding amount involved in such cases can also be recovered.

3. In view of these facts, as the accommodations have now been vacated and only outstanding amount is to be recovered, we expect from the concerned respondent-authorities that they shall continue to take steps for the recovery of the amounts due from the aforesaid unauthorized occupants. We also expect from the respondents that henceforth, if any Government servant retires, he/she should not be allowed to occupy the Government accommodations for a longer period than that permitted under the relevant Rules. We also expect from the respondents that the legally payable amount in such cases shall be recovered at the earliest.

4. With these observations, this writ petition is disposed of.

CHIEF JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN, J SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 „hkaur‟