HC directs 15 parties to submit proposal for payment of rent arrears

Mumbai, Dec 12 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed 15 political parties to submit their proposals for payment of their rent arrears pending with the Public Works Department (PWD) for barracks rented by them near ENSA hutments at Azad Maidan, LIC building and the barracks behind Yashodhan near Mantralaya, in south Mumbai.

A division bench comprising Justice F I Reberio and Justice Anoop Mohta have also directed the PWD to file a rejoinder to the proposal, stating whether it is acceptable to them or if they want any amendments to be made, by January 22, when the case will come up for further hearing.

State Government Pleader K R Belosay told reporters the state has already made recovery worth Rs 28 lakhs after the petition was filed by the Krantikari Jai Hind Sena, a political party whose proposal for allocation of premises on lease in the city was rejected by the PWD earlier.

Among the parties that have made part payments, the Congress has paid up the maximum amount of Rs 16 lakh.

In an affidavit filed before the court earlier, the executive engineer of the PWD (Presidency Division), Mr Anilkumar Gaikwad stated that major political parties including the Congress, the BJP, Shiv Sena, Janata Dal and the Republican party of India (RPI) owed the PWD amounts running into lakhs of rupees.

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