New Delhi, July 18 (IANS): The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to the central govenment on a petition by former CAG Vinod Rai questioning former ministers and MPs overstaying in official accommodation beyond their authorised period.
A bench of Chief Justice R.M.Lodha, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, while issuing notice, appointed senior counsel Shyam Divan as amicus curiae in the matter.
The notice is returnable in five weeks.
The former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has questioned the powers of the urban development minister and secretary to permit this kind of unauthorised overstay by the ex-ministers and former law makers.
Rai in his letter to the Supreme Court, has pointed out the private people living in official government bungalows in Lutyens Delhi - the VIP area around Rashtrapati Bhawan and Parliament House.
The letter pointed to the flimsy grounds on which former ministers and former members of parliament were staying in the official accommodation.
He cited an instance in which an ex-MP sought exemption from vacating his government accommodation on the grounds of his granddaughter studying in a Delhi school.