HC to check AAP plea on Kejriwal's house on Aug 25
Delhi High Court
has said it will examine on Aug 25 the plea of Aam Aadmi Party seeking allotment of a residential accommodation to its national convener and former chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, in the national capital.
Justice Sachin Datta adjourned the matter for a detailed hearing on the plea, which seeks directions to the central govt to allot accommodation to Kejriwal.
The petition contends that under the guidelines for the allotment of accommodation from the general pool to political parties, the president of a recognised national party was entitled to one govt residence in Delhi, provided they neither own a house nor were allotted one in any other official capacity.
"All pre-conditions are met. There is a national convener, who is also the national president. We are requesting a centrally located residence," senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing AAP, submitted earlier.
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He informed the court that AAP first wrote to the authorities on Sept 20 last year, followed by a reminder, but no action was taken. A previous bench granted the party office space when it lacked one, and the current request was for residential accommodation, he added.
The petition notes Kejriwal vacated his official residence at 6 Flagstaff Road on Oct 4 after stepping down as chief minister. Since then, he has been staying at the official residence of another party member near Mandi House, it added.
According to the guidelines, recognised national parties are allowed to secure the allotment of one housing unit from the general pool in Delhi for their office use on the payment of a licence fee.
The guidelines also state that one residential accommodation would be allotted to the president of a recognised national party in case he has no house in Delhi, either of his own or allotted by the govt in any other capacity.
Last year, AAP was allocated a new office at Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane in Lutyens' Delhi after it approached the high court, which ruled that the party was entitled to a space for its office here like other national parties and asked the BJP-led Centre to take a decision on the issue.
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