What is the post-retirement accommodation entitlement of the President of India?
11 Mar, 2012As per the facts through an RTI query it has come to notice that the President’s Emoluments and Pension Act, 1951, and the rules framed there under President’s Pension Rule, 1962, govern the matters related to the post-retirement accommodation entitlement of the President of India. The said rules read, “A place where Government owned accommodation is allotted to a retired President, the size of the residence shall be comparable to a residence allotted to a Minister in the Union Council of Ministers and if the highest type of Government residence available at a particular place is less in size than a residence allotted to a Minister in the Union Council of Ministers, the highest type of accommodation available at that place shall be allotted to the ex-President”.
At present, a minister is entitled to a plinth area of the bungalow as 4498 sq ft. It has been alleged by certain groups that although the former President of India is entitled to live in a house measuring not more than 4,498 sq ft, for the post-retirement accommodation in Khadki for the President Pratibha Patil, a land admeasuring 2,61,000 sq ft has been allotted.