Ramesh Pokhriyal went to the High Court to ask for a review of rents.
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today suspended the contempt of court action against Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank for failing to pay rent on his government bungalow in Uttarakhand, where former chief ministers were enjoying ‘lifetime benefits until a High Court ruling last year.
Mr Pokhriyal had challenged the Uttarakhand High Court order that required former chief state ministers to pay market rate rent for the government bungalows they occupy.
A bench led by Judge Rohinton F. Nariman also issued an opinion to the government of Uttarakhand.
In May of last year, the Uttarakhand High Court declared the state government’s orders on free housing and other lifetime facilities to former chief ministers illegal and unconstitutional.
The former chief ministers, including Mr. Pokhriyal, were asked to pay their rent at market rates, amounting to Rs 2.8 crore, within six months.
They were also told they had to wipe out various expenses worth Rs 13 crore, which included water, electricity and telephone bills and money spent on travel, fuel and salaries for the children. Staff.
Mr Pokhriyal had gone to the High Court to request a review of the rents because he was unable to pay.
Apart from him, the other chief ministers called to pay the market rent were ND Tiwari (deceased in 2018), Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, BC Khanduri and Vijay Bahuguna.
When the former chief ministers failed to pay their dues on time, the High Court initiated contempt proceedings.
In August, the High Court issued show cause notices to three former chief ministers, including Mr. Pokhriyal and Mr. Koshyari, now governor of Maharashtra.
