Huda, police clash over allotment of bungalow

High drama erupted in Gurgaon on Monday when Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) employees opposed a police team from taking possession of a Huda bungalow on behalf of a senior police official. Bungalow number 5 in Sector 15, Part 2, can be allotted only to Huda officials, the protesting employees claimed.

They also had a minor scuffle with the police who had come to occupy the bungalow allotted to joint commissioner of police Y Puran Kumar.

Gurgaon deputy commissioner TL Satyaprakash on May 2 had invoked magisterial powers to allot this property to Kumar, an IPS officer.

Huda employees said the move by the deputy commissioner was not in the right spirit as there is a paucity of housing for Huda employees. They will hold a protest in front of the house from Tuesday if the decision is not revoked, the officials said.

Sources said although Satyaprakash had the power to requisite government property, prior to doing so, a no objection certificate had to be obtained from the Huda.

In the past too, deputy commissioners had invoked their magisterial powers to take over Huda properties, including House no 1, 2, 5, 21 that are located in Sector 15, Part 2.

Huda SDE Vijender Malik, who claims that he has been allotted the bungalow, said the police had occupied the house without obtaining an NOC from Huda. “We are going to meet the DC and explain the situation. I have been waiting for the house for the last two years,” he said.

Satyaprakash said the house has been allotted to a senior police officer, who has “come to serve the city”. “We must respect his seniority. As far as the person who was allotted this house is concerned, we will try to accommodate him as well,” he said.

Huda administrator Hardeep Singh said the deputy commissioner had the power to requisite government property. “Huda property and houses have been requisitioned in the past and it is within the rules,” he said.

Singh himself is staying in the Huda guest house as his official residence is yet to be vacated by the previous administrator.