Considering Evicting Congress From Headquarters In Delhi, Government Says In Response To RTI Query

The government is considering evicting the Congress from its head office at 24 Akbar Road, the Urban Development Ministry has said in response to a Right to Information query filed by a college student, the Financial Express has reported.

The Congress currently occupies four government bungalows in central Delhi, exceeding what it is entitled to, the ministry has said, adding that the allotment of the four houses was cancelled with effect from 26 June 2013. While the party has continued to use the houses on concessional rates, it will be required to pay a “damage rate of licence fee” with effect from the allotment cancellation date.

The house at 5 Raisina Road, used by the Indian Youth Congress, has been under occupation since 1976. The ones at Chanakyapuri and 24 Akbar Road, used for party work, have been under occupation since 1985 and 1990 respectively. Another bungalow at 26 Akbar Road was allotted to the party on 8 March 1994.

The Congress party was given land on Rouse Avenue in June 2010 for building an office in the capital. The party was required to have the building constructed within three years of the land allotment, and vacate the bungalows by June 2013.

However, the party hasn’t done so. It has now requested the Urban Development Ministry to charge the “normal rate of licence fee till further extended time”.