A House for Ms Bhattal

Rajmeet Singh in Chandigarh

The Supreme Court’s order has put the Punjab Government in a Catch-22 situation. In 1972, the Punjab Government withdrew provisions in the Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act that entitles former chief ministers to government accommodation and other privileges. But it continues to extend the facility to its former CM and their families, citing other reasons. Punjab is in a bind on the issue of taking action in case of senior Congress leader and former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who continues to live in a sprawling bungalow (House No 8) in Sector 2, Chandigarh. She is not even an MLA as she lost the Vidhan Sabha elections to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Parminder Singh Dhindsa from Lehragaga last year.

The house was allotted to her in 2012 by the then Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, from the CM’s pool. It was done on security grounds after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered her to vacate another house in Sector 2 (House No 46), meant for the leader of the opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

In 2007, she lived there in her capacity as the leader of the opposition in the Assembly. In 2012, when Sunil Jakhar became the leader of the opposition, he got the house and Bhattal was asked to shift out.

In September last year, the Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, refunded Rs 84 lakh to the former Chief Minister, which she had deposited as penal rent for overstaying in House No 46. This was done before the Assembly elections in order to get an NOC to contest the elections. But after coming to power, the state government waived the penal rent and refunded her the amount.

It was then decided that market rent of Rs 1.82 lakh would be charged till the time she continues to occupy the bungalow. It has been seven months now. The former CM continues to illegally occupy the accommodation and has not paid the rent. 

The state government’s future course of action is significant in the wake of reports of Bhattal likely to be appointed as the Vice-Chairperson of the Punjab State Planning Board. When appointed, it would entitle her to retain the accommodation. 

The Supreme Court directive has also brought under the scanner the allotment of a bungalow to widow of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. The house was allotted in 2002 during Amarinder Singh’s earlier tenure as Chief Minister. He had announced lifetime Cabinet status to Beant Singh’s wife Jaswant Kaur, who passed away in 2010. The house is still in possession of the couple’s son Tej Parkash Singh, a former minister, and his grandchildren. Similarly, the house in possession of Surjit Kaur Barnala, widow of former Punjab CM Surjit Singh Barnala, has also come under the scanner. Both houses allotted by the Chandigarh Administration are from Punjab pool.