Ex-BJP MP Subrahmanian Swamy must vacate govt quarters: Delhi HC

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court ordered former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday to vacate the government accommodation in the Lutyens' Bungalow Zone in six weeks, reports The Indian Express (TIE).

Justice Yashwant Varma observed that the accommodation was allotted for five years, and the same has ended for Swamy. No material has been submitted before the court which mandates the requirement of government accommodation to a Z Class protectee.

TIE quotes Justice Verma, "All that would be left to be done by the (authorities) would be to ensure that adequate arrangements are made in the residential premises which the petitioner shall now occupy so that his security is safeguarded."

Earlier, Swamy, a Rajya Sabha MP till April 24 this year, had approached the court demanding a continuation of allotting the accommodation to him since he is a Z category protectee.

His counsel submitted that he approached the court to perpetuate his existence in that accommodation.

Jayant Mehta, Swamy's counsel, submitted before the court that Swamy is ready to shift to his personnel residence, but it is insufficient. "As (someone who is protected) by these many guards", he has to facilitate their accommodation to rest, stay and meet their basic needs, for which his private residence is not sufficient, the submission said.

The Centre told the court that Swamy's Z category security cover had not been withdrawn or downgraded. The government gave him a house, and it wasn't transferred to the Rajya Sabha pool when he became MP, the Centre said.

Centre added that the Ministry of Home Affairs didn't say that Z category security required an accommodation when Swamy was offered the house. MHA is saying the same now that the security cover does not mandate accommodation, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, representing the Centre, submitted, adding that the said security cover could be provided to Swamy at his palatial house in Nizamuddin East.

Jain further said that the Public Premises Act had been invoked, and Swamy had been declared an unauthorised occupant. However, proceedings of evicting Swamy have not been initiated so far as the matter is before the court. The Z category security will continue, though subjected to periodic review, for Swamy, Jain told the court.