Top State official asked to vacate MCHRD quarters

There is another instance of unpleasantness between officials of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana when the Telangana Estate Department officers went to the quarters of a senior AP government official to serve the eviction orders here on Tuesday.

After Telangana Government staked its claim over the sprawling premises of the MCHRD along with its buildings and quarters, the officers had been sending notices to Principal Secretary Finance P.V. Ramesh, in AP Government to vacate the quarters earmarked for Director General, MCHRD.

Undertaking

Mr. Ramesh moved into the house that was lying vacant in February, 2014 and the AP Government spent quite a sum on refurbishing it and sources close to him said that A.P. too had stake in the properties of the Schedule X institutions.

The MCHRD is among Schedule X institutions whose assets are yet to be divided between the two States as per the State Reorganisation Act, 2014.

Telangana Government made it known that according to Section 75 of the Act, the immovable properties of schedule X institutions would belong to the State where they were located and the other State would be given compensation.

According to Telangana sources, Mr. Ramesh was permitted to stay only till February 28.

As the MCHRD quarters were not among the pool quarters and earmarked exclusively for the MCHRD officials, he had given an undertaking that he would vacate the quarters as and when required by the MCHRD.

After Mr. Vinod Kumar Agarwal took charge as DG, MCHRD in March, 2015, Mr. Ramesh was given notice to vacate to provide accommodation to the DG.

Governor’s order

Sources close to Mr. Ramesh said that after bifurcation notification was issued, the Governor had passed an order that whoever was in possession of the government quarters as on June 1, 2014, could continue to do so.

Clarifying the misconception, Telangana sources said that the Governor order was meant for Andhra officials staying in Government pool quarters in Punjagutta, Erra Manzil etc., as on June 1 and such quarters would be counted under AP pool.

But the order was not applicable to earmarked quarters like that of the MCHRD, they added.

MCHRD is among Schedule X institutions whose assets are yet to

be divided