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Who owns 7, Jantar Mantar Road bungalow?

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Jan 21 2016 | 10:28 PM IST
Which political party has control over 7, Jantar Mantar road which was once a main office of AICC/INC and hub of political activity?
There seems no definite answer as Ministry of Urban Development has claimed that there is no information about the political party to which it was allotted, the RTI response from the Ministry said.
"As per the records of lease-1 Section of Land and Development Office, there is no information as to which political parties the property at 7, Jantar Mantar Road, New Delhi was allotted. However, a copy of letter dated April 16, 1958 from the office of Settlement Commissioner, where it has been stated that the requisition portion of the premises are in occupation of AICC," P T Jameskutty CPIO of Urban Development Ministry said.
In response to Subhash Agrawl, he said in the available records, it has been stated that the property was sold to All India Congress Committee (AICC) through negotiation.
"It has also been stated in the note that Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Smarak Trust has claimed that on April 30, 1977 Ashok Mehta, President, Indian Nation Congress (INC) and four others executed a deed in favour of the Trust transferring all its rights. But the Trust was informed that it would not be possible to executed the deed in favour of the Trust as it had not entered into transaction with them," he said.
However, in the file notings given with the reply show that Department of Legal Affairs has given an opinion in August 1993 saying that legal ownership rests with central government.

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As there was no final agreement between the central government and the AICC and after the lapse of 40 years nobody has right to invoke the principle of primary estoppal particularly in view of the fact that INC/AICC is no more in existence in its original organisational structure, after repeated splits in the party, it said.
The property was given to Surdar Dharam Singh in 1920 through lease which was later purchased by Nawab Abdul Hassan Khan who left for Pakistan after partition following which Central Government declared it evacuee property.
In 1959, the central government decided to sell entire property to AICC at a price of Rs 6.10 lakh. In addition, the party was asked to pay Rs 96,962 as additional premium and Rs 4849 as AGR up to July 14, 1959 on account of permanent change from residence to office, the file noting says.

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First Published: Jan 21 2016 | 10:28 PM IST

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