S C Order: Akhilesh may render his father homeless

Lucknow: The Supreme Court order asking former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh to vacate the sprawling bungalows occupied by them has created a piquant situation for the present state chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. Akhilesh may render his father "homeless".

Former defence and chief minister of Uttar Pradesh has been residing in the house allotted to him as former chief minister of the state. His son Akhilesh Yadav who replaced him four years ago will have to ask his father to move else where.

The Court has given two months to get its landmark judgment implemented. So there is no immediate worry to him. But eventually he will have to fulfill this unpleasant task, unless there is revision of the order. Next few days or weeks ,therefore,will be interesting to watch.

Informatively, Akhilesh’s five –year term as chief minister expires next year when new election will be held but his new house, a palatial one at that, is being constructed. If some officials are to be believed the house is estimated to cost about Rs 25 crores and will outshine the house of BSP supremo Mayawati. The latter’s house too has cost the state exchequer a fortune.

Some other points also crop up in this connection. If his party wins the next election he does not need this house and can live in the present one. If he loses he cannot live in this house as per the Court’s order.

Mulayam is one of the former chief ministers who has been provided a government accommodation. The others who are enjoying government facilities are Ram Naresh Yadav, ND Tewari , Kalyan Singh, Rajnath Singh, Mayawati and Vir Bahadur Singh. The first two beneficiaries have been governors of Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, respectively. On the other hand, Kalyan is governor of Rajasthan and Rajnath Singh, Union home minister. Still it never occurred to them that they should vacate their sprawling bungalows and offer them to more needy.

Also Read: SC orders Mulayam, Mayawati to vacate their official bungalows

The practice of providing government accommodation to former chief ministers has been going on since long. As per the available record, Sripat Mishra was the first to move to a government house after stepping down. The difference, however, is that he was allotted smaller house, compared to the houses allotted to those who occupied the post after him.

For instance, N D Tewari who succeeded him was provided a much better accommodation. Those who followed have enjoyed the same kind of accommodation. Of course, there has been an exception. Ram Prakash Gupta of the BJP had refused to move into the government's house. The apex court has given a big jolt to all others.

Contacted by newztrack.com for reaction, the petitioner, SN Shukla, said he had approached the Court because the practice was wrong and it should not continue. The Court agreed with his plea and that it was a misuse of the government property.