Government houses for private persons if only under SPG cover ; Criteria changed At present only 3 private persons given government houses from security point of view

Government houses for private persons if only under SPG cover ; Criteria changed

At present only 3 private persons given government houses from security point of view

Further to revision of criteria, government accommodation is be provided to private persons from the security point of view only if they are under the protection cover of the Special Protection Group (SPG). This was informed by the Minister of State for Urban Development Shri Babul Supriyo in a written reply in Lok Sabha today. The Minister further informed that at present only three private persons viz., Smt.Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Shri K.P.S.Gill and Shri Maninder Singh Bitta have been provided government accommodation.

Shri Babul Supriyo stated that the criteria for allocation of government houses on security considerations have been changed making only SPG protectees eligible for such consideration. Special license fee shall be charged for such accommodation. The security protectees will not be required to surrender their own houses in Delhi in lieu of allocation of government accommodation.

Under the previous criteria, private persons under 'Z Plus' security category were also entitled for government accommodation and they were required to surrender own houses in Delhi further to allocation of government accommodation and in such cases, special license fee was charged instead of market rent.

Ministry of Home Affairs examines in each case if the allotment of government accommodation to a person on security consideration is in public interest and if the security threat to such persons has emanated from the duties performed in public office in the past. The Ministry should also opine whether it was absolutely necessary to provide the persons concerned houses in Delhi.

AAR