New Delhi: Embarrassed by the revelations about a union leader and retired RPF official occupying three government bungalows, the Railways has cancelled allotment of two houses and started eviction proceedings. "When it came to our notice that two houses are not been used for the purpose they were allotted, we decided to cancel the allotments," said a senior Railway Ministry official.
Two of the bungalows allotted to retired officer of Railway Protection Force (RPF) US Jha, who is still general secretary of the RPF Association, are on the Panchkuian Road near Connaught Place in the heart of the city. Two of the three bungalows were allotted in the name of a federation associated with RPF and the third one, located adjacent to the New Delhi Railway Station, in the name of All India RPF Association.
Jha retired from RPF as an Inspector around three years back but was still occupying all the three bungalows. "Eviction proceedings for the two bungalows are being initiated by the Estate Department," the official added.
The revelation about the retired official occupying three government bungalows came when CBI informed the Railway Board about it. While pointing out the irregularity in the allotments, the investigating agency had sought necessary action by the department concerned.
There are about 73,000 RPF personnel in the country out of which only 30 to 40 per cent staff get accommodation. In Delhi Division, there are about 2300 members of RPF and hardly 120 of them could be allotted railway quarters and about 500 could be accommodated in barracks and rest are neither given barrack nor quarter accommodation.
Jha said he was not aware of cancellation of two bungalows. "I am yet to receive any cancellation or eviction notice," he said when asked about the development. According to Railway Ministry officials, it is an established norm to provide accommodation to railway unions to run their offices as part of its strategy to maintain good industrial relations.
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