SC sets aside law allowing govt bungalows to ex-CMs of Uttar Pradesh

The Supreme Court on Monday set aside a provision of a law that allowed government accommodation to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers, terming it "arbitrary and discriminatory" as it violated the concept of equality.

A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi said once a Chief Minister demits office, there was nothing to distinguish him or her from a common man.

Setting aside the provision of the law passed by the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, the bench said such bungalows constitute "public property which by itself is scarce and meant for use of current holders of public offices".

The apex court struck down Section 4(3) of the Uttar Pradesh Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1981, as amended in 2016, allowing former Chief Ministers of the state to be entitled to allotment of government accommodation for their life time.