Arvind Kejriwal finally gets government bungalow after HC's intervention

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): After a lengthy legal battle and ongoing tension with the central government, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has finally been allotted the Type-VII bungalow at 95 Lodhi Estate. This residence has been given to him in his capacity as the head of the national party.

This allocation came after the Delhi High Court had strongly criticized the central government for delays in housing allocations. The court had stated that transparency and equity must be ensured in the distribution of government housing. The court was hearing a petition filed by the AAP seeking a central government housing grant for its national convener.

During the hearing on September 16, the High Court, calling the central government's approach "evasive," stated that the housing allocation process should be a system of equal opportunity, not a system of specialization. The court clarified to the central government that government housing cannot be allocated on the basis of discrimination against any individual or position.

Previously, the Aam Aadmi Party had proposed giving Arvind Kejriwal the Type-VII bungalow at 35 Lodhi Estate. This was the same bungalow that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati vacated in May. However, the central government allotted the bungalow to a Union Minister of State instead of Kejriwal. This decision further fueled controversy.

Subsequently, the High Court reprimanded the central government, directing it to present to the court records of its allocation priorities and procedures, and to explain the basis on which Arvind Kejriwal was placed lower on the priority list. Now that Kejriwal has been awarded the 95 Lodhi Estate bungalow, the AAP has hailed it as a "victory for justice."

Party leaders said the decision was not only legally correct but also showed that transparency and equality still prevailed in the institutions.