U’khand BJP govt mulling ordinance to upturn HC orders on former CMs

In a bid to nullify the Nainital High Court orders which had declared all government facilities including palatial houses given to former Chief Ministers as “illegal and unconstitutional,” the Uttarakhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is bringing in an ordinance to restore these facilities.

According to sources, the state cabinet in its meeting held on august 13 had decided to bring in the ordinance which would be sent to the state Governor for approval. The Bill in this regard will be brought in the next session of the state assembly.

The Nainital High court in May this year had declared all the facilities provided to former Chief Ministers of the state as “illegal and unconstitutional” rejecting the contentions of the Chief Ministers.

The court had ordered all former Chief Ministers to pay rent of such houses which they occupied after ceasing office as per market rates. The state government had also issued notices to the former Chief Ministers to pay the rent as per market rates.

The court gave its’ final judgement on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Social activist Avdhsah Kaushal of Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), a voluntary group.

The court had directed that money payable for amentities like electricity, water and petrol provided by former chief ministers in the state be computed by the state government and occupants asked to pay the amount within six months.

An amount of rs 13 crore were due on former chief ministers including Maj. Gen B.C. Khanduri (retd), Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and Vijay Bahuguna.

The move by the state government to give benefit to former chief ministers at the cost of public exchequer is widely criticised in the social media circles.