Controversy Over Delhi Chief Minister’s Residence: Former Chief Secretary Clarifies Allotment Procedures
New Delhi: Amid ongoing controversy regarding the official residence of the Delhi Chief Minister, former Chief Secretary Alok Sehgal has provided clarity on the allotment process for government residences in the capital. He emphasized that no residence in Delhi is officially designated for any Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), except for Raj Niwas, the residence of the Lieutenant Governor.
Sehgal elaborated that ministerial bungalows are subject to reallocation whenever a new minister assumes office. “There is no guarantee that the same house will be allotted to the next occupant,” he stated, underscoring the necessity of adhering to proper procedures for all allotments.
He recounted that when Arvind Kejriwal became Chief Minister, he did not have a designated house. The residence he occupied was originally the Chief Secretary’s residence, which was vacant at the time and subsequently allotted to him. Previous Chief Ministers, such as Sheila Dikshit and Madan Lal Khurana, resided in different locations, none of which were officially designated as the Chief Minister’s residence.
Sehgal further stressed that the allotment process involves several steps, including formal orders and authentication by senior government officials, such as an under secretary or deputy secretary. “Even if someone is the Chief Minister, an order must still be passed; occupying a government house without following proper procedures is illegal,” he explained.
Additionally, he noted that regulations prohibit an individual from holding two government residences simultaneously. He also suggested that a Vigilance enquiry might be underway regarding the current residence at 6 Flagstaff Road, which could be a reason for the delay in its allocation.
On Wednesday evening, the Public Works Department (PWD) sealed the former official residence of Arvind Kejriwal at 6 Flagstaff Road, known as ‘Sheesh Mahal,’ due to improper procedures followed during the handover. The PWD has placed a double lock on the gate of the house.
In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed that CM Atishi was evicted from 6 Flagstaff Road and her belongings were forcibly removed. Atishi had officially moved into the Chief Minister’s residence on October 7, taking over from Kejriwal and holding her first meeting there with employees and officials.
Kejriwal has since relocated to a bungalow on Feroz Shah Road in Lutyens’ Delhi, which has been allotted to AAP’s Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, Ashok Mittal.
