Delhi High Court Seeks Transparency in Government Bungalow Allotment, Centre Assures Accommodation for Arvind Kejriwal

 

In the Delhi High Court, a petition by the Aam Aadmi Party seeks a direction to the Union Government to allot a residential bungalow to Arvind Kejriwal in his capacity as National Convenor of the Party. During the hearing, the Centre informed the Court that an “appropriate” residential accommodation would be allotted within ten days, in accordance with applicable rules. The Solicitor General made this submission before Justice Sachin Datta, who responded that an order would be passed after taking that statement on record. The Court also observed that existing practices in the Ministry must be improved—not only for political allocations but also for other allotments—and indicated that the systemic issue must be addressed.

The AAP’s counsel submitted that the Centre should clarify the category and type of accommodation to be allotted, noting that Kejriwal could not be relegated to what had been offered earlier. The Court, too, indicated that the government must explain how it arrived at the decision to allot or not allot a particular category of bungalow.

Alongside that, the Court engaged in detailed questioning regarding the policy framework for allotment of government bungalows. It asked whether there is any extant procedure or rules in place, and how allotment discretion is exercised in practice—particularly the sequence in which applicants are considered and priority is assigned. The Court stressed that discretion in allotment must not be based on whim; rather, there must be a transparent, discernible policy underpinning decisions. It demanded that the policy be placed on record via affidavit, with a disclosure of past allotments and how policy provisions have been applied in earlier cases.

The Court further noted that the bungalow at 35, Lodhi Estate—which had been proposed by the AAP for Kejriwal—had already been allotted to a Union Minister of State (Finance) on July 24, during the pendency of the petition. It questioned why that bungalow was diverted to someone else, and how such decisions are justified. The Court directed the Ministry’s Joint Secretary and the Director of the Directorate of Estates to appear virtually and explain their decision-making.

In sum, the Delhi High Court appears determined to ensure that the allotment process for government residences adheres to clear policy and does not become a matter of arbitrary executive discretion. The Court has accepted the Centre’s undertaking to allot one appropriate accommodation to Kejriwal soon, while reserving the right to issue directions on the broader issue of allotment transparency and procedural fairness.

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