HC said Centre is free to take action if the petitioners did not comply with the order
New Delhi: On Wednesday, The Centre asked eight eminent artists, who were allotted government accommodations years ago but it was ordered in 2014, to vacate the facilities by May 2, a move that comes a day after eviction proceedings were conducted against 90-year-old Padma Shri awardee and Odissi dancer Guru Mayadhar Raut.
A senior Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry official said that out of 28 artists, there are still eight who have not moved out of their government accommodations despite multiple notices and orders.
"These eight artistes assured us that they are in the process of vacating their bungalows and want some more days. They have given us an undertaking in writing that they would vacate the facilities by May 2 and we have given them their time," the official told PTI.
On Guru Mayadhar Raut's eviction, the officials said that a team had been sent to his government bungalow for initiating eviction proceedings.
Social media videos and pictures showed his household goods kept outside the government bungalow.
According to the government's policy, near about 40 artists can be allotted accommodation under a special quota in the General Pool Residential Accommodation on the recommendation of the culture ministry if they earned under ? 20,000 a month.
Earlier this month, the Delhi High Court had refused to grant more time to Indian classical artiste Rita Ganguly who had challenged a single judge's decision directing her and others to vacate government allotted residences in the national capital by April-end.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Navin Chawla had said it would not grant even one more day and noted that the single judge was more than benevolent while granting her two months' time.
The Centre had given a deadline of December 31, 2020, to vacate the premises but the notice was stayed by the high court after the petitions were filed.
The court had said it would be open for the Centre to take action if the petitioners did not comply with its February order.
The single-judge had delivered its verdict on the pleas by Mohiniyattam dancer Bharati Shivaji, Kuchipudi dancer Guru V Jayarama Rao, Mayadhar Raut, Dhrupad singer Ustad F Wasifuddin Dagar, Bharatanatyam dancer Rani Shinghal, Kathak expert Geetanjali Lal, and other artistes including KR Subanna, Kamal Sabri, Devraj Dakoji, Kamalini, artist Jatin Das, Pt Bhajan Sopori and Ganguly.
Vanashree Rao, wife of Kuchipudi dancer Guru Jayarama Rao, who was allotted a house in 1987, said they are in the process of vacating the property.
"We have started packing household goods. The government is not ready to listen to us. We will vacate the accommodation soon," Mr. Rao told news agency PTI on Wednesday.
As part of its drive against "illegal occupants", the Directorate of Estates had evicted Lok Sabha member Chirag Paswan from the 12, Janpath bungalow which had been allotted to his late father Ramvilas Paswan.
Several BJP MPs, who had been allotted bungalows when they were ministers, had to also vacate the government facilities and houses.
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