Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra is set to approach the Delhi High Court today to contest a notice instructing her to vacate the government bungalow allotted to her as a Member of Parliament (MP) and warning of the “use of force” if necessary, sources revealed to NDTV.
Moitra, who was expelled as a Lok Sabha MP last month on grounds of unethical conduct, will file a writ petition challenging the eviction notice in the court of Justice Manmohan shortly.
Her legal team argues that, as a candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Moitra, like other MPs, is allowed to retain her residence from the last day of the Parliament session preceding a general election until the day of the results. Given her status as a candidate, they contend that this provision should apply to her as well.
The eviction notice, issued by the Directorate of Estates overseeing government properties, sternly instructs Moitra to vacate the premises immediately. It states that failure to do so may lead to eviction “by the use of such force as may be necessary.”
The notice asserts that Moitra had been given sufficient opportunity to prove she was not an unauthorized occupant, but she failed to do so.
Moitra had previously approached the high court, prompting the court to advise her to request the Directorate of Estates to allow her to remain in the bungalow for the time being. The court highlighted that rules allowed authorities to permit overstaying for up to six months under certain circumstances. While the court refrained from commenting on the case’s merits, it allowed Moitra to withdraw her petition.
The eviction order specifies that if Moitra decides to challenge the eviction notice in any court, she will be liable to pay damages for each month.
Moitra, occupying a bungalow in Delhi’s Telegraph Lane, had her government accommodation allotment canceled on January 7, a month after her expulsion as an MP. She had requested time until the Lok Sabha polls, citing the hindrance the loss of government accommodation would pose to her campaign.
Moitra faced expulsion in December after a Parliamentary panel found her guilty of unethical conduct for accepting expensive gifts from a businessman and sharing her Parliament login credentials with him.