Delhi HC disposes Mahua Moitra's house eviction plea

The Delhi HC has disposed of a plea filed by Trinamool leader Mahua Moitra against the notice to vacate her government-allotted house, following her expulsion from the Lok Sabha. The court advised Moitra to approach the Directorate of Estates, a department under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs responsible for managing Central government estates, to seek permission for retaining her accommodation beyond the specified date of January 7. The court emphasized that any steps for eviction should adhere strictly to the legal framework.

 Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha on charges of "unethical conduct" related to accepting gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani, had approached the Delhi High Court seeking to quash the eviction notice. The court, while acknowledging the Directorate of Estates' authority to permit a resident to overstay for a defined period, directed Moitra to submit a representation to the Directorate of Estates for further action in accordance with the law.

Additionally, the court granted Moitra the option to withdraw her plea. Moitra had previously requested the court to allow her to retain the government accommodation until the declaration of results for the 2024 general elections. Meanwhile, she is challenging her expulsion in the Supreme Court, which has issued a notice to the Lok Sabha secretary general, seeking a reply within three weeks.