Last Word

Housing Delhi's VIPs has always been a big headache. Unfortunately, the very definition of a VIP has become one too. Everybody in this city...

Housing Delhi’s VIPs has always been a big headache. Unfortunately, the very definition of a VIP has become one too. Everybody in this city claims to be one!

But, going by the original intention, government housing was meant for three categories of people: bureaucrats, the armed forces, and elected representatives. Unfortunately, with the deification of departed leaders, we were left with a situation where the families of those who had passed away laid claim to the properties that once housed them in their days of power.In fact I did some investigation into this and discovered that 16 of New Delhi’s best properties have been handed over to various trusts and memorials on a permanent basis. This is a crime.

Then you have the situation that is currently prevailing, where a weak, coalition government just does not have the will to stand up to those who violate the rules governing the allotment of these properties.

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The rule is that once you demit office you are no longer entitled to official residences. But this is followed more in the breach than in the observance. We have had instances of leaders like Om Mehta clinging on to their official residences until they passed away. True, there is always a good reason for people to stay on and the excuses are a legion. But while bad health and so on are unfortunate, we must be clear that government housing is not for charitable reasons.

To my mind, the Union government should be very clear on this. Houses should on no account be handed over permanently for any cause. There must be strict rules stating that within a week of person demitting office, he or she must vacate their official quarters. If former British Prime Minister John Major can leave 10, Downing Street within a few hours of being voted out of power, so can we.

Unfortunately, Indian politicians have got so used to being patronised by the State that they cling to their privileges like limpets.

(Jaya Jaitly is general secretary of the Samata party and a well-known crafts activist)