Srinagar, Sep 24: Political persons, media persons and freedom fighters are entitled to a share of the 5 per cent discretionary quota in government residential accommodation in Jammu and Kashmir, with 3 per cent reserved for political persons, 1.5 per cent for media persons and 0.5 per cent for freedom fighters and others, the government has informed the Legislative Assembly.
The details were disclosed in response to a question by MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania regarding expenditure on government accommodations and the rules governing their allotment.
The Estates Department said the discretionary quota was provided under the Jammu and Kashmir Estates Department (Allotment of Government Accommodation) Regulations, 2004, and subsequent government orders.
According to the reply, the 5 per cent discretionary quota comprises 3 per cent for political persons, 1.5 per cent for media persons and 0.5 per cent for freedom fighters and others.
The government said the quota was introduced through Government Order No. 1291-GAD of 2004, dated September 22, 2004, which provided for a 5 per cent discretionary quota for persons other than government employees. A subsequent Government Order issued in November 2016 prescribed the category-wise breakup of the quota.
The government also clarified that allotments of government accommodation are not being made under any separate SOP issued during a Governor’s Cabinet approval.
“Allocations are strictly regulated under Regulation 4(e) of the Jammu and Kashmir Estates Department (Allotment of Government Accommodation) Regulations, 2004,” the government said.
On whether the government intends to frame statutory entitlement rules for MLAs in place of the discretionary regime, the reply said no such proposal is under consideration.
The government said residential accommodation for members of the Legislative Assembly is already governed by statutory rules, namely the Residential Accommodation of the Members of the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Rules, 1973.
Regarding MPs, MLAs and other elected representatives continuing to occupy government accommodation allotted under the discretionary quota, the government said residential accommodation for Assembly members is governed by the 1973 rules, while accommodation for Parliament members is considered under the discretionary provisions of the Estates Department regulations.
The government also informed the House that the upper limits on construction, upgradation, renovation and repair of residential accommodation in Srinagar and Jammu were notified through Government Order No. 63-EST of 2017.
Separate guidelines prescribing cost ceilings for civil works at the time of allotment of government quarters were also issued in 2020, specifying the type of accommodation, entitlement and applicable monetary ceilings, it added.
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