Kirron Kher issued ₹12.76 lakh notice over unpaid government house fees

Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Kirron Kher has been issued a notice demanding the payment of ₹12.76 lakh in dues for the license fee of a government-allotted house in Chandigarh. The notice, dated June 24, 2025, from the Office of Assistant Controller (Finance and Controller) Rents, directs Ms. Kher to immediately clear the outstanding amount for the T-6/23 house in Sector 7, warning of an additional 12% annual interest if payment is delayed.

The arrears largely stem from penalties levied for the "unauthorised" occupation of the residential accommodation after her term as a Lok Sabha MP from Chandigarh concluded in 2019. The notice details that while a regular license fee of ₹5,725 was due from July 2023 to October 5, 2024, a 100% penalty of ₹3.64 lakh was imposed for occupation between October 6, 2024, and January 5, 2025. This was followed by a staggering 200% penalty, amounting to ₹8.20 lakh, for the period from January 6 to April 12, 2025, the provisional date of vacation.

Authorities have also added additional interest and miscellaneous charges, bringing the total recoverable sum to ₹12.76 lakh, calculated up to April 30, 2025. The notice cites Rule S.R. 317-AM-21 of HAC, 1996, which pertains to regulations governing government residences. As of now, there has been no immediate reaction from Ms. Kher regarding the notice, which instructs her to make the payment via demand draft or bank transfer.