VVIP squatters: A menace to public exchequer

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MADHU AGRAWAL

14 December, 2009

The government and squatters have no right to burden public exchequers on accommodating deserving new parliamentarians and ministers in hotels. Squatters and defaulters of government-dues should not be allowed to contest any elections.

MEDIA REPORTS indicate that even after eight months of the formation of the new Lok Sabha, many former parliamentarians and former union ministers have not yet vacated their government appointed accommodations.

The so called ‘market rent’ of these government accommodations was fixed several decades ago. It is actually a very small fraction of actual rental value of such premises. The problem here is twofold – one one hand, these premises remain occupied by these VVIP squatters for a long time, ensuring that the newer clout have trouble finding a place to live. Secondly, the government is losing out on a lot of revenue due abysmally low rent that is charged.

The rules should actually be amended so that these squatters may not be able to seek stay orders from courts. Their belongings should be thrown out within thirty days after expiry limit. The government and squatters have no right to burden public exchequer on accommodating deserving new parliamentarians and ministers in hotels. Squatters and defaulters of government dues should not be allowed to contest any elections.