Hello Friends, The Supreme Court has reprimanded the Central Government over the problems faced by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel posted in Delhi regarding rented houses. The court has said that if the government does not resolve this problem soon, it will issue an order under Article 142 of the Constitution.

Need to understand the problems of the soldiers

The CRPF personnel, who work day and night for the defense and internal security of the country, are facing the problem of renting houses in Delhi. They are temporarily posted in Delhi, but they are not able to get government housing. The house rent allowance (HRA) that the soldiers get is not sufficient, due to which they face difficulties in finding a house according to their needs. This problem has been going on for years, but now the Supreme Court has taken a tough stand on it.

Supreme Court stance and warning to the government

A bench of Justice A S Oka and Justice Ujjwal Bhuyan was hearing the case. The court told the government in clear words that if this problem is not resolved soon, then it will have to issue an order under Article 142. This means that the court will remove the government’s negligence under its special powers and find a proper solution.

Why did the matter reach the Supreme Court?

The matter started when the Delhi High Court quashed the CRPF orders issued in 2005 and 2017, in which only the personnel working in the headquarters (HQ) were considered eligible for government housing (GPRA). Nine CRPF officers had approached the Supreme Court against this decision. The Supreme Court clarified the issue and said that it is important for the jawans temporarily posted in Delhi for 2-3 years to understand whether they can get a suitable rental house within their HRA.

Delhi High Court’s decision and government rules

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had also ruled in favor of CRPF officers. The court had said that if an officer fulfills the conditions of the Government Order (OM) of 1969, then he should have full right to apply for government accommodation. According to the Government Order of 1969, an office has to fulfill the following conditions for government accommodation:

• The office should have received approval from the Cabinet or competent authority to be set up in Delhi
• It should be part of a ministry, its subordinate or attached office
• Its salary comes from the Consolidated Fund of the Government of India
• There is no separate housing pool for its employees
• It should be located within the Delhi Municipal Corporation area

What is the real problem?

The central government argued that CRPF officers are not automatically entitled to government accommodation, as they do not fulfill the eligibility prescribed under the Central Government Pool (CGPRA Rules, 2017). But the Delhi High Court rejected this argument and said that CRPF works under the ministry, so its officers should also get the right to government accommodation. Actually, this problem is the lack of government housing and the fear that once the house is allotted, the officers will not leave it even if they are posted somewhere else. The court reprimanded the government on this and said that it is the responsibility of the government to fix the system of allotment and make proper arrangements for vacating the houses on time.

What will happen next?

Now this matter will be heard again in the Supreme Court on April 7. If the government does not solve this problem by then, it is possible that the Supreme Court will exercise its special powers and give strict instructions to the government. CRPF soldiers serve day and night, away from their families, for the security of the country. In such a situation, it is necessary for them to have proper arrangement of rented houses in Delhi. The government should give priority to their problems and find a solution as soon as possible, so that they can discharge their duties without any worry. The strict stand of the Supreme Court is a positive step in this direction, which has increased the hope of the soldiers getting their rights.

Disclaimer: This article is written for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as an interpretation or advice on the legal matters mentioned here. Consult an expert before making any legal decision.

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