NEW DELHI: All India Trinamool Congress' Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha last month, has reportedly vacated her allotted MP bungalow in line with her eviction notice.
Refusing to grant her any relief in her challenge to the notice, the Delhi High Court upheld the same even as Moitra pleaded not to be thrown out citing medical reasons.
While Moitra went from pleading for 'mercy' to remain in the bungalow, and offering any amount of money charged, to seeking 2.5 - 4 months on medical grounds, the Court said it was not inclined to entertain the petition.
It stated that Moitra has no right to continue living in the government bungalow as she has been suspended as an MP.
On her medical grounds, Justice Kathpalia added, You say you are ill and you need some time, on these grounds... But why four months? Why not three days to vacate? My thought is if you would have said three days, four days or a week, they would have looked into it," the judge said.
Noting that no specific rule has been brought before the Court that would deal with the eviction of Members of Parliament from government accommodation after they cease to be MPs, the Court held,
"To conclude, in view of the pendency of the issue of expulsion of petitioner (Moitra) before the Supreme Court and the issue of extension of time to vacate the government accommodation being inextricably linked with that, coupled with the fact that as on date petitioner has no right, this court is not inclined to invoke jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India at this stage to restrain the operation of the impugned eviction order. Accordingly, the application stands dismissed".
The Court went on to list Moitra's petition in which she challenged the eviction notice issued by the Directorate of Estates (DoE) for further hearing on January 24.
The eviction notice asking Moitra to vacate the bungalow immediately was issued to her on January 16.
Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8, 2023, was earlier asked to vacate the house by January 7, after the allotment to her as an MP was cancelled.
