SC raps Centre, Bihar and AP govts over unauthorised occupants

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) The Supreme Court today pulled up the Centre, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar governments for their casual approach in evicting unauthorised occupants from government accommodations.

A bench comprising Justices B N Aggrawal and P P Naolekar also threatened to issue notices to the Lok Sabha Speaker if the government fails to evict the unauthorised occupants and recover penal charges from them which run into crores of rupees.

There are 30 cases in which either eviction has not been effected or recoveries have not been made. The decretionary quota for the two Houses of Parliament is monitered by the two House committees.

The court told the Govt that ''suspend unauthorised occupants if they are still in service, register criminal cases against them under section 441 IPC (criminal tresspass). Forfeit thier FDI's and bank accounts to recover the penal charges''.

The court also directed the Bihar government to immediately suspend 56 unauthorised occupants of govt accommodation and lodge FIRs against them.

The counsel for Bihar told the court that 180 unauthorised occupants have disappeared and recovery from them is not possible.

The court, however, refused to buy the arguement and said it was only eyewash. Regarding Andhra Pradesh, the court directed the state government to immediately suspend and arrest 60 unauthorised occupants who include senior IAS officers of the state.

The court said IAS officers do not enjoy any immunity under the law and they are not above law. The court was dissatisfied with the sketchy details given by the state government in its affidavit.

In case of Bihar, even rickshaw pullers forcibly occupied goverment quarters during the tenure of RJD government in the state.

The court later adjourned the hearing till September 20.

UNI