SC gives notice to Sharad Yadav to vacate Lutyens Zone bungalow

New Delhi, March 31 : The Supreme Court on Thursday gave time till May 31 to disqualified Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Sharad Yadav, to vacate his bungalow in Lutyen’s Delhi, which he has been allegedly occupying for more than four years, after his disqualification. A three-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud and also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Surya Kant, granted Yadav time on “humanitarian grounds,” considering his ill health. Earlier on, March 15, a two-Judge Bench of Delhi High Court, headed by Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and also comprising Justice Navin Chawla, had directed Yadav to vacate his official bungalow within 15 days, or by March 30. The High Court had passed the order, after hearing an application filed by the Ministry of Housing Urban Affairs, seeking vacation of the stay order dated December 15, 2017. But Yadav moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Delhi High Court’s March 15 order. The time, extension was given on humanitarian ground by the Apex Court and on the condition that Yadav should file an undertaking that he will vacate the premises on or after May 31, 2022, SC today said in its order. The bench of the Supreme Court passed the order and directed Yadav to vacate his bungalow by May 31, after hearing the Special Leave Petition filed by Yadav, challenging the Delhi High Court’s order of March 15, directing him to hand over the possession of the official accommodation, Bungalow number, 7, Tughlak Road. The Supreme Court earlier had asked the Centre to consider on humanitarian grounds, as to whether Yadav’s plea seeking more time to vacate his official bungalow in Delhi will be given to him or not. Yadav’s Counsel, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, told the Supreme Court that he was suffering from numerous ailments, and his health condition was critical. Sibal had sought time, stating that Yadav was on ventilator for many days and has to undergo daily dialysis. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Centre, opposed the plea, stating that there was paucity of official accommodation in Lutyen’s Delhi, as other MPs also need flats to stay, especially after the expansion of the Cabinet. It was also pointed out and made clear by the Centre to the top court of the country that Yadav had occupied the official residence for over four years after his disqualification and that his original term as MP had already expired. SM RJ