JAMMU: In absence of holding any constitutional or official position, still 53 self styled “royals” of political parties are enjoying Government accommodations resulting in wastage of public money worth crores on “unemployed” politicians having no contribution towards welfare of general public in current scenario.
Submitting its report in response to an order of Jammu and Kashmir High Court pertaining to a PIL No 17/2020 titles Prof SK Bhalla v/s Union Territory of J&K and others, the Government apprised the Court the list of 53 occupants ranging from former Chief Ministers, Ex MPs, MLAs, MLCs besides microscopic political identities
Those favored with Government accommodations includes Ghulam Nabi Azad (DAP), Shamsher Singh Manhas (BJP), Muzaffar Hussain Beig, Sajad Gani Lone (PC), Mohd Yusuf Tarigami (CPI-M), Abdul Rahim Rather (NC), Chander Mohan Gupta (JMC Councillor), Kavinder Gupta (BJP), Sunil Sharma (BJP), Ravinder Raina (BJP J&K President), G M Saroori (DAP), Neelam Langeh (BJP), Daleep Singh Parihar (BJP), Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar (JKAP), Bali Bhagat (BJP), Sat Sharma (BJP), R S Pathania (BJP), Imran Raja Ansari (JKPC), Ravinder Sharma (Cong), Vibodh Gupta (BJP), Hakeem Mohammad Yasin (PDF), Sofi Yousaf (BJP), Ab Majid Padder (PDP), Zaffar Iqbal Manhas (JKAP), Nizam-u-Din Bhat (PDP), Fayaz Ahmed Mir (ex-MP), Abdul Gani Vakil (PC), Surinder Ambardar (BJP), Raja Manzoor (JKAP), Vikram Randhawa (BJP), Yasir Reshi (PDP) and deceased Rajesh Gupta (BJP).
In addition, the names of some lesser known political persons also figured in the list of occupants of government accommodations which includes Pardeep Sharma, Tariq Ahmed Keen, Wazira Begum, Shilpi Verma, Sonaullah Lone, Zahid Hussain Jan, S S Channi Shafiq Mir, Bashir Ahmed Dar, Muzaffar Shah, Haji Abdul Rashid, Mohd Amin Bhat, Reyaz Ahmed Mir, Shoaib Nabi Lone and Mohammad Abbas
On Feb 7, 2023, Division Bench J&K High Court on the plea of Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed, counsel for the petitioner in PIL No 17/2020 who apprised the Court that despite earlier orders issued by the Court, 53 persons are continued to occupy Government accommodations in absence of holding any constitutional position, had order for submission of recommendation(s) of the committee concerned and details of persons who are still being given the official accommodation.