Altogether 19 IPS officers, living in official quarters here, also own government quota flats in the city suburbs, neighbouring Thane or Navi Mumbai, Home Minister R R Patil informed the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly here today.
An IPS officer is eligible to reside in government quarters in Mumbai despite having a government quota flat in Mumbai suburbs, Thane or Navi Mumbai, Patil said.
Patil cited a government resolution (GR) issued by general administration department (GAD), which facilitates the officers to occupy government quarters despite owning a flat in another district.
The minister, however, assured the House that the government will probe, if any officer had received more than one flat from government quota.
Patil was replying to queries by opposition legislators during Question Hour. The issue was raised by Shiv Sena legislators Sanjay Gawande, Subhash Desai, Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse and BJP legislator Devendra Fadnavis.
Desai objected to the GR and demanded that it be scrapped. Khadse said even retired officers don't vacate government quarters.
"No officer was allowed to continue in government quarters after retirement. After completion of three months of retirement, they have been charged rent along with heavy penalty," Patil said.
Desai pointed out that many officers have more than one flat and they are earning huge amount by renting them out.
The Home minister said, "We are ready to start investigation against those officers, who had taken more than one flat from government quota.
