Ex-ministers can't overstay in official bungalows : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court was told that former ministers cannot overstay in official bungalows. The submission was made by the amicus curiae before the court which is hearing the provisions of law that allows former ministers to stay on in official bungalows.

Amicus curiae, Gopal Subramanium told the court that a minister who has demitted office cannot hang on to public largesse. An Uttar Pradesh based NGO, Lok Prahari had sought action against the authorities for acting in contempt of a court verdict which had directed former



chief ministers to vacate the bungalows.

The court was asked if Article 14 of the Constitution that deals with fundamental right to equality permits former ministers to retain their official bungalows indefinitely.

S N Shukla appearing for the NGO said that the court intervene now or the practise would extend to other states. He said there were States where former ministers were not only given bungalows but also cars and staffers whose expenses were drawn from the public exchequer.