Can the municipal number allotted to the houses be changed on demand?
3 Dec, 2013
The reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has shown that the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee got the number of his to-be-allotted bungalow changed before demitting his office despite the absence of any such rules.
Replying to the application, the Deputy Director of Estates & CPIO, Union Ministry of Urban Development stated that the then caretaker Prime Minister had asked for a change in the address of the bungalow which was to be allotted as his official residence as former PM from 8, Krishna Menon Marg (New Delhi) to 6-A Krishna Menon Marg (New Delhi). The RTI reply also stated that there are no rules or guidelines allowing any change in bungalow numbers as per the choice of individuals exist and that in case of government residences numerology, astrology and vaastu, etc. are not allowed to be considered according to the wishes of the individual allottees.
Alleging the misuse of position by the then Prime Minister, the RTI applicant has demanded a probe as to how a change in number was affected within a couple of days even when the files had to move between Prime Minister's Office and Union Ministry of Urban Development.