Former Jammu and Kashmir ministers asked to vacate govt bungalows

Jammu: All former ministers of the previous BJP-PDP government have been asked by authorities to vacate their official bungalows, which they have been occupying even after the imposition of Governor rule in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have issued notice for the vacation of ministerial bungalows to 13 former ministers, which includes six from BJP, six from PDP and one from Peoples Conference," Deputy Director Estates Jammu, Satish Kumar Sharma said.

The notice issued to former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh reads that the bungalow was allotted to him in the capacity of the minister, "however after the imposition of Governor rule on January 9, 2016, you ceased to be the minister".

The notice further said that as per the allotment rules of the Estates Department, a person is entitled to hold government accommodation including ministerial bungalows upto one month after relinquishing/ceasing to hold the office, and this one month in the instant case has expired more than a fortnight ago.

"Therefore you are requested to kindly hand over the possession of the ministerial bungalow allotted to you in your capacity as minister to the Estates Department within a period of seven days from the date of issuance of this communication," the notice reads.

Governor rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 after the demise of the then incumbent Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in a hospital in New Delhi.

Since then there has been a stalemate over the government formation between the two former ruling alliance partners BJP and PDP.