In a latest development, the Ministry of Urban Development has served a second notice to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra, directing her to vacate the government house. Sources indicate that Moitra is required to respond to this notice by January 16. This follows a previous notice from the Directorate of Estate, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, urging Moitra to vacate her official bungalow after her expulsion from the Lok Sabha in connection with the ‘cash-for-query’ case.
Mahua Moitra had approached the Delhi High Court seeking the quashing of the notice issued by the Directorate of Estate, which instructed her to vacate the house by January 7, 2024, under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants Act) 1971 (‘PP Act 1971’). In her plea, Moitra requested permission to retain possession of her government accommodation until the results of the 2024 General Elections.
The plea highlighted the challenges posed by the absence of government accommodation, emphasizing its impact on Moitra’s ability to host and engage with party members, parliamentarians, fellow politicians, visiting constituents, key stakeholders, and other dignitaries—crucial activities, especially in the lead-up to a general election.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on January 3, directed the Secretary General of Lok Sabha to file a response to Mahua Moitra’s plea challenging her expulsion from Lok Sabha in the cash-for-query case. Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8, 2023, following a discussion on the report of the Ethics Committee. The report recommended her expulsion and called for a time-bound institutional inquiry by the central government into the “Unethical Conduct” case.
Moitra contested the expulsion, asserting that the Ethics Committee breached established rules and claimed she was found guilty of violating a code of ethics that she argues “does not exist.” The committee’s report revealed Moitra’s multiple visits to the UAE between 2019 and 2023, raising questions about her activities during that period.
As the legal battle continues, Mahua Moitra faces a dual challenge of responding to the eviction notice while challenging her expulsion from the Lok Sabha, setting the stage for a complex legal and political confrontation.
Sources By Agencies