Government asks Indian Women's Press Corps to vacate premises

The Estate Department of the government has issued a notice to the Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC) asking to vacate its premises at Windsor Place in Lutyens' Delhi by July 31.

The notice said the Estate Department is directed to convey by the principal approval of the competent authority for retention of government accommodation Bungalow No. 5, Windsor Place, allotted to Indian Women's Press Corps, for a period up to 31 July 2022.

No alternate accommodation will be provided to the IWPC by the government.

Shobhna Jain, President of IWPC said the notice is part of routine procedural work. The organisation has been applying for renewal whenever it is about to expire for the last 25 years. "There is nothing to read in between the lines".

The IWPC was allotted the land in May 1994, and the last retention order was issued on January 6, 2018, for three years.

Jain added that the IWPC is holding talks and hopes that the government will consider our request for giving extension for a longer period as it has been quite supportive to us. The government had issued an eviction notice last August and asked it to pay outstanding dues.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, said the same building has been allotted to nine NGOs/trusts/memorials/social organisations within the limits of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).