The Delhi High Court, on Thursday, directed Mahua Moitra, the expelled Lok Sabha member and TMC leader, to seek permission from the Directorate of Estates to continue residing in the government-allotted accommodation. Justice Subramoniun Prasad emphasized that rules allowed authorities to permit an individual to overstay for a specific duration under exceptional circumstances.
The judge suggested Moitra submit a representation to the Directorate of Estates, assuring that appropriate action would be taken in accordance with the law. Consequently, the court permitted Moitra to withdraw her current petition, highlighting that legal procedures mandated issuing a notice to a resident before eviction.
The court underscored that the government would take lawful steps to evict the petitioner. Moitra's plea in her petition sought the setting aside of the Directorate of Estates' December 11 order. Alternatively, she requested permission to retain possession of the accommodation until the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were declared.
Moitra faced expulsion from the Lok Sabha on December 8, 2023, on charges of "unethical conduct." The allegations included accepting gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani and sharing her user ID and password of the Parliament website with him. Following her ouster, Moitra has contested her expulsion in the Supreme Court after the Lok Sabha adopted the report of its ethics committee, which recommended her removal.
(With Agency Inputs)
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