Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has asked Peoples Democratic Party president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to vacate her official Fairview bunglow on the Gupkar Road by or before November 15.
The Jammu and Kashmir’s Estates Department in the eviction order said that Mufti is in “unauthorized occupation” of the public premises.
The order explained that the premises allotted to Mufti was given to her in the capacity of chief minister of the erstwhile state on April 27, 2017 for a period of six months and a further extension was given up to October 31, 2018.
The order stated that no further extension was given to her by the government.
The order said after that she was no longer entitled to retain the government accommodation as the legal provision under which former chief ministers were entitled to various facilities was repealed by the Government of India in 2020.
The government said that Mufti’s response to the earlier eviction notice was received by them on October 22.
“ … the grounds raised by you (Mufti) don’t justify your retaining the scheduled accommodation particularly against the backdrop of the fact that Government has communicated in writing its willingness to provide you an alternate accommodation on security or any other grounds,” the order read.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of section 5 of The Jammu and Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1988, I, hereby, order that Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, ex-chief minister and all persons who may be in occupation of scheduled premises or any part thereof to vacate the scheduled premises on or before 15.11.2022,” reads the order.
“In the event of refusal or failure to comply with this order within the period specified, provisions of sub-section (2) of section 5 of The Jammu and Kashmir Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1988 shall be invoked against you and every such person occupying the scheduled premises,” it adds.
The Fairview bungalow was allotted to her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 2005 after he relinquished the Chief Minister’s office.
