The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed the writ petitions of Congress MPs Ambika Soni and Kumari Selja challenging their eviction from type-VIII bungalows in Lutyens' Delhi, while holding that they were not entitled to stay there as per the Rajya Sabha Secretariat norms, and imposed a fine of Rs.25,000 on each of them.
Both the Congress leaders, who are now Rajya Sabha members, were allotted these bungalows when they were Ministers in the previous UPA government. After the Union government >served eviction notices on them and asked them to shift to type-VII accommodation in June, they moved the High Court and obtained stay orders.
Ms. Soni and Ms. Selja, staying at 22, Akbar Road, and 7, Motilal Nehru Marg, respectively, accused the BJP-led NDA goverment of having "mala fide intentions" against the members of Opposition in asking them to vacate the houses.
They also said that as per the allotment letters issued to them, they could hold the accommodation for a month after their term as MP expired or after retirement.
Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw of the High Court, rejecting their arguments, said in his 26-page judgment that he was sad to notice the petitioners' contention of not being bound by the Handbook for Members of Rajya Sabha. "It does not behove the representatives of people to say that though others are bound by the laws, rules and regulations framed by them, they themselves are not."
The Court said the citizens choose a Member of Parliament to represent them in the making of laws and for keeping a watch over the governmental affairs and for ensuring that the government was run in accordance with the laws, rules and procedures framed. It reminded the two leaders that they should not assert claims beyond their entitlement under the rules.
The Court imposed a cost of Rs.25,000 each on Ms. Soni and Ms. Selja and asked them to pay the fine to the Directorate of Estate within three months. (EOM)
