Roorkee Clash | 'Cancellation Of Govt Accommodation For MLA & BJP Leader Recommended': State Govt Tells Uttarakhand HC

Sparsh Upadhyay

13 Feb 2025 4:27 PM IST

  • Roorkee Clash | Cancellation Of Govt Accommodation For MLA & BJP Leader Recommended: State Govt Tells Uttarakhand HC

    The Uttarakhand Government informed the Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday that action has been initiated to cancel the government accommodation provided to independent MLA Umesh Kumar (from Khanpur) and BJP leader and former MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion. It is important to note that both individuals were involved in a violent political clash in Roorkee on January 26th....

    The Uttarakhand Government informed the Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday that action has been initiated to cancel the government accommodation provided to independent MLA Umesh Kumar (from Khanpur) and BJP leader and former MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion.

    It is important to note that both individuals were involved in a violent political clash in Roorkee on January 26th. The Uttarakhand High Court has taken a suo moto cognizance of the incident.

    During the hearing, a bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal inquired from the State Government on three main issues:

    • The security provided to both accused individuals
    • The government accommodation granted to them
    • The non-disclosure of the criminal history of ex-MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion to the concerned court

    Appearing for the state government, Deputy Advocate General JS Virk, after receiving instructions, apprised the Court about the following facts:

    • About Security – a committee has been constituted, and within a short period, the Committee will decide.
    • About allotment of Government Accommodation of Irrigation Department to these political persons – The bench was informed that the matter has been forwarded to the Secretary concerned for cancellation of allotment.
    • About non-disclosure of criminal history to the Court – It was submitted that an explanation would be sought from the concerned Prosecution Officer. 

    Furthermore, the Deputy Advocate General though informed the Court that the monthly rent of the government accommodation allotted to 'Champion' is Rs. 9209/- per month, and for the Accommodation allotted to sitting MLA, the monthly rent is Rs. 1693/- per month, an advocate (Gaurav Singh), who belongs to Roorkee, gave different figures to the bench.

    He submitted that these Government Accommodations are located in the heart of the city, and the approximate monthly rent is more than Rs. 70,000/- per month.

    On the other hand, Sr. Advocate Arvind Vashisht submits that some observations may be recorded so that any authority or court concerned may not be influenced by the HCs' decision to take suo moto cognizance of the incident.

    The bench, however, noted that the Sr Advocate had not placed any record that any authority or court concerned is influenced as such.

    If it is so, he can place the material before this Court, however, if anyone else is seeking any legal remedy, as per law before any authority or court concerned, then the authority or court concerned may take its own recourse, as per law without being influenced with the fact that the High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the incident dated 26.01.2025 of Roorkee,” the bench remarked.

    The matter has now been listed for a further hearing today.

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