AN IPS officer is eligible to reside in a government quarters in Mumbai city even if he/she has a government quota flat in Mumbai suburbs, Thane or Navi Mumbai. This was clarified by home minister R.R. Patil in the state Assembly on Wednesday.
He also informed that 19 IPS officers, living in government quarters in Mumbai, own government quota flats in the Mumbai suburbs, Thane or Navi Mumbai. He said that there is a 1979 GR issued by general administration department (GAD), which facilitates the officers to take government quarters even if they own a flat in another district. The GR was re-issued in 2000. He, however, assured that the government would probe if any officer had taken more than one flat from the government quota.
Mr Patil was replying to the queries raised by 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. Mr Desai raised his objection over the GR and demanded that it should be scrapped. The Leader of Opposition also said that officers who retir-ed were not even vacating the government quarters.
“According to the GR, any IPS officer who owns a flat in Mumbai suburbs or any other district is eligible for a government quarters in Mumbai and vice versa. Right now, 39 IPS officers are posted in Mumbai alo-ne, of which 19 of them own government quota flats in adjoining districts and are living in government quarters. These officers have done nothing wrong,” the Mr Patil replied.
“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,” Mr Patil added when replying to a query raised by the members. Mr Desai had pointed out that many officers have more than one flat and that they were earning a good income by renting them out.