New Delhi June 11: Raghav Chadha had been given a Type-VII bungalow, though in the normal course, as a first-time MP, he is entitled to a Type-V house. How are these allotments decided?
The Rajya Sabha Secretariat’s decision to allot a Type-VII bungalow on New Delhi’s Pandara Road to first-time MP Raghav Chadha in September last year and then cancel the allotment this March has led the Aam Aadmi Party MP to move court and obtain a stay against being removed from the property.
As a first-time MP, Chadha is entitled to a Type-V house in normal course, though the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha House committee is authorised to make exceptions. The matter is now in Delhi’s Patiala House courts.
What are the types of government accommodation in Delhi?
Starting with Rashtrapati Bhawan at the top, there are various types of accommodation for Constitutional office-bearers, Union Ministers, judges, defence chiefs, MPs and bureaucrats spread across the Lutyens Bungalow Zone (LBZ). While the area is named after the architect of New Delhi, Edwin Lutyens, he did not design the bungalows, but laid out the masterplan for the 19.12-square-kilometre area.
Around 600 bungalows — single-storied standalone buildings — are spread around the LBZ. Residential accommodation for mid and junior-level Central government officers can also be found outside the LBZ, like in the residential colonies of Sarojini Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar and others, which are being redeveloped into high-rise towers.
The accommodations are categorised from Type I to Type-VIII, which is the largest. There are a total of 520 Type VII and Type VIII bungalows.
As per the Rajya Sabha handbook, there are 101 bungalows and 200 flats in the Rajya Sabha pool.
How are the allotments done?
While the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry’s Directorate of Estates allots houses to Union Ministers, eligible Central government officers and heads of national commissions, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariat are responsible for allotting homes to their MPs. Both Houses have a House Committee comprising MPs to approve allotments and cancellations. Similarly, the Supreme Court has its own pool of houses for judges.
In the case of Rajya Sabha MPs, like Chadha, first-time MPs are entitled to Type-V bungalows or single flats as their official accommodation. Many of the first-time MPs are allotted flats in the redeveloped MP flats on BD Marg or the old flats on North and South Avenue. The next category, Type VI bungalows or twin flats, are for MPs who are former Ministers of State, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, nominated members, floor leaders of their parties and members who have completed at least one term.
