New Delhi:
Delhi government has asked the former Education Minister Kiran Walia to vacate the flat occupied by her for the past three and half months even after demitting office and pay the pending rent amount of Rs 9,38,000.
An eviction notice in this regard was sent out today by the Public Works Department of Delhi Government.
Ms Walia was allotted the flat no-I, Satya Sadan in Chanakyapuri during the Congress government's regime and was issued a letter to vacate the house earlier by the department in February.
"You are in unauthorized occupation of public premises mentioned in the schedule below and that you should be evicted from the said premises," the notice said.
"I also call upon you to appear before me in person or through a duly authorized representative capable to answer all material questions connected with the matter along with the evidence which you intend to produce in support of the cause shown, on May 20 at 11.30 AM for personal hearing. In case, you fail to appear on the said date and time, the case will be decided ex parte," the notice said.
The rent of the flats is 55 times more than the license fee as per the norms which amounts to Rs 2,68,000 for one month. The PWD will also issue a notice to former Transport and Education minister Arvinder Singh and former Power minister Haroon Yusuf in the coming days asking them to pay the due rent amounts of the houses they were staying in, a PWD official said.
Mr Yusuf lived at Rouse Avenue Marg bungalow, while Mr Singh resided at his official bungalow at Civil Lines. Both of them have already vacated their official residences allotted to them.
As per the norms, former ministers can stay in official residences free of cost for 15 days after demitting office. Afterwards, if they choose to stay there (maximum of six months), they are required to pay rent as per market rates.