Delhi HC to Hear Mahua Moitra’s Plea Against Govt Accommodation Cancellation on Jan 4

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stated that it will hear Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra’s plea challenging the cancellation of her government accommodation on January 4, 2024.

The court noted that the Supreme Court is set to hear her plea against expulsion from the Lok Sabha on January 3, 2024. Justice Subramonium Prasad, presiding over the case, adjourned the hearing.

Moitra’s counsel urged the court to direct the Directorate of Estates to submit a reply to the petition before January 4. The high court stated that it would consider this request on the next hearing date.

The petition seeks to set aside the Directorate of Estates’ December 11 order or, alternatively, allow Moitra to retain possession of the accommodation until the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are declared.

Senior advocate Pinaki Misra, representing Moitra, emphasized that the petitioner only seeks to keep possession of the government accommodation until May 31, 2024.

The Directorate of Estates was represented by Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma and Central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia.

Moitra faced expulsion from the Lok Sabha on December 8, 2023, for alleged “unethical conduct,” including accepting gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani and sharing her user ID and password of the Parliament website with him. She has already challenged her expulsion in the Supreme Court, where the case is scheduled for a hearing on January 3, 2024.