Nine MPs across party lines occupy different properties as compared to the land allotted to them. The Lok Sabha Speaker—who oversees government appointment— had not handed over a bungalow even after she was allotted another one after her appointment in her current position in 2009. This information was unearthed after RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal filed an application   

Eight former and one sitting Parliamentarians are not only occupying government bungalows after losing entitlement, but are not  even paying nominal rent which is mandatory for staying there. Moreover, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar, has not handed over a bungalow even after she was allotted another one after her appointment in her current position in 2009.

The information has been revealed by RTI (Right to Information) activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal through an application to the directorate of estates at the Ministry of Urban Development.

The six former Parliamentarians who have defaulted on the rent are: Ram Deo Bhandari, Sangita Kumari Singhdeo, G Venkataswamy, Devwrat Singh, Jagdish Tytler, the family of late Krishan Lal Balmiki and sitting MP YSR Jagan Mohan Reddy. Ajay Singh Chautala and Gireesh Kumar Sanghi have not defaulted but occupy unauthorised bungalows.

The biggest defaulter is G Venkataswamy, who owes Rs29 lakh; followed by Mr Tytler who owes Rs 19lakh as on 30 September 2011. Both their allotments were cancelled on 18th June 2009.

Mr Agrawal has also accessed information of land being allotted to various political parties for their office buildings. However, the addresses of AICC, BJP, CPI and Samajwadi Party do not match those which feature in a statement issued by the directorate of estates titled ‘Accommodation attached to various political parties and dues against them.’ This statement shows four properties attached to AICC, two with BJP and one for Samajwadi Party and CPI each.

The details of the dues (as on June 2011) against some accommodations are: BJP at 14, Pandit Panth Marg has outstanding dues from April 2009; Nationalist Congress Party at 10, Dr BD Marg from September 2010 to June 2011; CPI at AB-4 Purana Qila Road from July 2010 and president of Bahujan Samaj Party at 4,GRG Road from January 2011.

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha supervises the accommodation facilities allotted to the members. But Ms Meira Kumar herself quoted controversy about a year ago by not handing over the bungalow whose allotment was cancelled in 2009. Incidentally, that same bungalow now houses ‘Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial’; named after her father and former Parliamentarian—and also has a statue of him.

The reply to Mr Agrawal’s letter says, “The bungalow No. 6, KM Marg was allotted to Smt Meira Kumar, the then Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, on 04.06.2004. However, she did not occupy the same. Subsequently, on her becoming the Speaker, she was allotted bungalow No. 20 Akbar Road on 06.07.2009. The bungalow No.6, KM Marg, has not been allotted to anyone thereafter.”

In his reply, the director of estates says that there are no rules pertaining to how long a government bungalow can stay vacant. On being asked about the vacation certificate of bungalow No.6, a central public works department (CPWD) has declared, “No action in this regard can be taken by CPWD unless the bungalow is vacated by the honourable Member of Parliament.”