In a setback for AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, a Delhi court has ruled that he must vacate the government bungalow that was allocated to him after his original allotment was canceled.The court has lifted the interim stay previously granted to Mr. Chadha, thereby allowing the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to request his eviction from the bungalow at any time.Evacuation Notice served @raghav_chadha for Bungalow 7 type per @Rajyasabhasectt is arbitrary capricious w/o application of mind, reeks of vendetta be quashed as Bungalow not be apportioned on past decorum as being royal not public servant, CJI Chandrachud @SCofIndia. @bombayhc pic.twitter.com/GbHhYhzCBV— Milind Goraksha (@ieMilindreal) October 6, 2023 Following the courts decision, AAP leader Raghav Chadha released a statement criticizing the cancellation of the allotment as arbitrary and unprecedented. Raghav alleged that it was carried out at the call of the BJP to advance their political agenda and vested interests.Type 7 accommodationRaghav Chadha was initially given a Type 6 bungalow in July of the previous year. Later, he requested a larger Type 7 accommodation, which was allocated to him in September of the same year.However, in March, the secretariat revoked the allotment, arguing that a first-time MP was not entitled to such a high-grade bungalow. In response to this decision, Mr. Chadha filed a petition in Delhis Patiala House court and was granted an interim stay on April 18.In June, the Rajya Sabha housing committee maintained that the Type 7 bungalow was above Mr. Chadhas grade as a first-time MP. Such accommodations are typically designated for former Union Ministers, former governors, or former chief ministers.AAP leader accuses BJP of downgradeIn his statement, Raghav Chadha argued that he had been unfairly and victimized, accusing the BJP of attempting to silence political criticism from MPs like himself.The AAP leader said, “The cancellation of my duly allotted official accommodation was arbitrary without any notice to me. It is unprecedented in more than 70 years of history of the Rajya Sabha that a sitting Rajya Sabha member is sought to be removed from his duly allotted accommodation where he has been residing for a while and more than 4 years of his tenure are still remaining”.
