Why Govt Accommodation Given To Individuals Under Security Cover? Jammu & Kashmir High Asks UT Administration

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has directed the UT government to provide an explanation regarding the provision of official accommodation to individuals who are entitled to security cover.

The directions to this effect were made by Chief Justice Kotiswar Singh and Justice Puneet Gupta while hearing a PIL seeking eviction of ex-ministers, and former legislators from ministerial bungalows.

During the course of hearing Mr. S.S.Ahmed, counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner referred to the case of Prof. S. K. Bhalla Vs UT of J&K where it was held that security assessment and entitlement to Government accommodation are two different issues and cannot be intermingled.

In view of the same he argued that the inference that can be drawn is that while because of certain threat perception security cover can be granted to a person, it is not necessary that the person has to be provided the Government accommodation also. It was further submitted that even if the accommodation was required to be provided in exceptional circumstances, the accommodation to be provided to a former Chief Minister/Minister or a retired bureaucrat cannot be the same after his ceasing to occupy the office as he was occupying when he was in office.

In this regard, the Court asked why persons requiring security cover have been given official accommodation.

"We, therefore, would like to know from the Administration as to the nature of the accommodation provided to these persons and the reasons for doing so by the next date," it ordered and scheduled the matter on July 19, 2023 for further consideration.

Case Title: Prof. S. K. Bhalla Vs UT of J&K

Click Here To Read/Download Order