This is the third notice served to the expelled Lok Sabha MP by the Directorate of Estate, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Expelled Lok Sabha MP and Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra was on Wednesday served a fresh notice to vacate her government-allotted accommodation in the national capital.
This is the third notice served to Moitra by the Directorate of Estate, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, asking her to vacate her official bungalow.
Moitra, the firebrand leader from West Bengal, has been harshly criticical of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on several issues.
She was recently expelled from the Lok Sabha in connection with the ‘cash-for-query’ case.
“The Applicant vide Letter dated 08.01.2024 requested to initiate eviction proceedings against, you under the provisions of Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971,” the notice of Office of the Estate Officer and Assistant Director of Estates (Litigation), Directorate of Estates read.
The Ministry of Urban Development served the second notice to Moitra on January 11 this year.
The TMC leader had approached the Delhi High Court, seeking quashing of the notice issued by the Directorate of Estate cancelling her government accommodation in the national capital.
The plea stated that a notice had been issued to her on December 11, 2023, which directed her to vacate the house by 7.01.2024, failing which proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants Act) 1971 (‘PP Act 1971’) will be caused to be initiated.
The plea prayed to allow her to retain possession of her government accommodation till results of the 2024 general elections are announced.
It also stated that the absence of government accommodation, however, poses a significant impediment to the petitioner’s ability to host and engage with party members, parliamentarians, fellow politicians, visiting constituents, key stakeholders and other dignitaries, which is essential, especially in the lead up to a general election.
Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8, 2023, after a discussion on the report of the ethics committee in the ‘cash for query’ that was tabled in the lower house.
Moitra, who was not allowed to speak during the discussion inside the House, said that the ethics committee broke every rule.
The expelled Lok Sabha MP alleged that she has been found guilty of breaching a code of ethics that ‘does not exist’. — With inputs from Agencies
