Now, Arvind Kejriwal overstays in official bungalow; PWD scared to send notice

New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has batted for honesty and intergrity in public life, has not vacated his official bungalow C-II/23 at Tilak Lane despite the completion of the 15-day grace period.

According to Delhi Secretariat sources, PWD has not sent a notice to Kejriwal for vacating the official house allotted to him, fearing that if the same government comes to power, it may create trouble for the concerned officials.

Even, from Kejriwal's side, there has been no communication in this regard. Kejriwal who resigned from the chief minister's post on February 14, ideally should have vacated the house on March 1.

Arvind Kejriwal. File Pic/AFP

As per rules, former ministers can stay in official residences free of cost for 15 days after demitting office. Afterwards, if they choose to stay there (maximum of six months), they are required to pay rent much higher than market rates.

In case Kejriwal wished to extend his stay at the present location, he has to officially intimate the PWD in this regard and use the premises for six more months by paying 65 times more the licencee, which amounts to 2.58 lakh per month.

Delhi Government had recently asked former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to pay up Rs 3.25 lakh as rent for overstaying in her official bungalow, and had it initiated the process to vacate official residences still under possession of the two former Congress ministers.

The Public Works Department had asked former Congress ministers Kiran Walia, Arvinder Singh Lovely and Harun Yusuf to pay Rs 5.8 lakh, 6.5 lakh and 2.9 lakh respectively as rent decided on the basis of market rates.

Meanwhile, the PWD has forwarded a file to the Lt governor seeking an extension of the 3 months stay period to 8 months after resignation or retirement.

The proposal has been cleared by the law, finance and PWD departments of Delhi government.