Rahul Gandhi… Bungalow No. 5 Sunhari Bagh Road… How are bungalows allotted to MPs and ministers, know the rules

New Delhi : There is news that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will get a new bungalow. According to the report, Rahul Gandhi was offered a Type 8 bungalow at 5 Sunhari Lane. It is being told that now it is almost certain that this will become his/her new official residence after Tughlaq Lane. In such a situation, Chief Justice of the country DY Chandrachud will also be among Rahul Gandhi’s neighbors. Rahul had to vacate his/her bungalow in Tughlaq Lane after being convicted in a defamation case before the Lok Sabha elections.

Who allots the bungalows

As the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi is entitled to a Type-8 bungalow along with many other facilities equal to a cabinet rank minister. In such a situation, the question is how bungalows are allotted to MPs and ministers. Actually, the Directorate of Estates (DoE) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has the responsibility of allotting bungalows to ministers and MPs. The Directorate of Estates has the authority to administer and manage the estates of the Government of India. This includes government residential accommodation and other properties across the country. The allocation of central government bungalows is done through the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Act. GPRA covers central government residential accommodation under the administrative control of DoE in Delhi and at 39 locations outside Delhi.

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Separate bungalows are designated

The government has also divided different types of bungalows in Delhi into pools. There are different types of bungalows for allocation to ministers and MPs. These include Type 8, Type 7, Type 6 and Type-5 bungalows. Type 8 bungalow is of the highest class. It has 8 rooms (5 bedrooms, one hall, 1 large dining room, study room) including servant quarters. It is given to cabinet ministers, Supreme Court judges, former Prime Minister/former President/former Vice President and senior most leaders. Its area is about 3 acres. Type 7 bungalow is usually given to state ministers, Delhi High Court judges and leaders who have been MPs at least 5 times. Type 5 bungalow is given to leaders who become MPs for the first time. According to the new conditions, Type-6 bungalow can also be given to leaders who become MPs for the first time.

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How are bungalows allotted

In 1952, Parliament had laid down the procedure for allocating houses to MPs. For serving Union ministers, houses are allotted through the DoE. Committees of both Houses now decide on housing allotments for their members. They use criteria such as number of terms in Parliament, previous positions such as minister in a state or union, etc. to decide whether an MP gets a bigger bungalow or a smaller house. Presiding officers of both Houses can also intervene to get an MP more accommodation than he/she is entitled to. Contrary to popular opinion, most MPs now live in single and multi-storey apartment complexes close to Parliament. Joint Flat Type Five (A/A), Joint Flat Type Five (A/B) and Joint Flat Type Five (B/B) are also provided for MPs to live in.