Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament, Mahua Moitra, who was ousted from the Lok Sabha in December 2023, has been directed to vacate her government bungalow with immediate effect. The directive was issued by the Directorate of Estates, marking the latest development in the ongoing accommodation dispute.
Earlier, Moitra was instructed to vacate the residence by January 7 after her allotment was canceled. The Directorate of Estates subsequently issued a notice on January 8, demanding her response within three days regarding her continued occupancy. Another notice was sent on January 12.
In a legal twist, on January 4, the Delhi High Court advised Moitra to approach the Directorate of Estates with a request to extend her stay in the government accommodation allotted to her. Justice Subramoniun Prasad, addressing Moitra’s challenge to the eviction notice, acknowledged that rules permitted authorities to allow a resident to overstay for up to six months under exceptional circumstances, subject to the payment of certain charges.
While allowing Moitra to withdraw her petition, the court clarified that it had not made any observations on the merits of the case. It emphasized that the Directorate of Estates should independently assess Moitra’s situation and make a decision based on its own evaluation. The court underlined the importance of adhering to due process, requiring proper notice before eviction, and urged the government to follow legal procedures.
Moitra faced expulsion from the Lok Sabha on December 8, 2023, after being found guilty of “unethical conduct.” The charges against her included allegedly accepting gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani and sharing her user ID and password for the Parliament website with him. The legal proceedings surrounding her government accommodation have added another layer to the political developments surrounding Moitra.