Mahua Moitra to challenge Centre’s eviction notice in Delhi HC

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra, who was expelled as Lok Sabha MP last month, will challenge in Delhi High Court a notice asking her to vacate the residence allotted to her as a lawmaker, NDTV reported.

Mahua Moitra will file a writ petition against the eviction notice which reportedly warned her of ‘use of force’ if necessary.

Moitra's lawyers argue that MPs can stay in their allotted residence from the last day of the Parliament session to the day of results of a general election.

Also, she is a candidate for the Lok Sabha polls, they said.

The eviction notice issued by Directorate of Estates has asked Moitra to immediately vacate the bungalow.

In the event of Moitra not vacating on her own, the Directorate of Estates said occupants ‘are liable to be evicted from the said premises, if need be, by the use of such force as may be necessary.’

The government claimed that she had been given ‘sufficient opportunity’ to prove she is not ‘an authorized occupant’.

The high court earlier asked Moitra, when she approached it, to request the Directorate of Estates to allow her to continue to stay.

The court also pointed out that in exceptional circumstances the rules allow a resident to continue stay for up to six months paying charges.

However, the court allowed Moitra to withdraw her petition without making any observation on the merit of the case.

Days after she was expelled as MP, the Directorate of Estates on December 11 issued a notice askign her to vacate the residence by January 7.