Jaipur, September 4: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasudhara Raje will have to vacate his official bungalow after the high court struck down an order passed by the previous BJP government in the state. The BJP government, led by Vasundhara Raje, had passed the Rajasthan Ministers Salaries (Second Amendment) Bill 2017, allowing former chief ministers to stay in government bungalows with several other perks. However, the Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday declared the amendments illegal. Minimum Water Supply to Every Household: Rajasthan Government Mulls First-Of-Its-Kind Bill.

"The extension of these facilities to former chief ministers, regardless of whether they had tenure of five years or less, is abhorrent to the principle of equality," said the high court. Quoting British novelist George Orwell, the court added: "One is reminded of George Orwell's portrayal of a distorted meaning of equality in his much-celebrated animal farm - that all animals are born equal but some are more equal than others ..." Rajasthan Government Announces Unemployment Allowance From March 1; Rs 3,000 For Men, Rs 3,500 For Women.

Following the court's order, Raje will have to vacate her government bungalow at 13 Civil Lines. Despite losing the election in 2008, Raje continued to live in 13 Civil Lines. She became chief minister for the second time in December 2013. She stepped down as chief minister last year after the BJP lost Rajasthan to Congress. Besides Raje, Jagannath Pahadia, who was chief minister from 1980-81, too, will have to vacate his bungalow.

Reacting to the court's order, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the government will decide on allotting Raje a bungalow based on its policy of taking seniority into account. The high court passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Milap Chand Dandiya who had argued that chief ministers once they remit office should not be allowed such facilities, NDTV reported.

The Supreme Court had passed a similar order last year for Uttar Pradesh. Subsequently, former Chief Ministers Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav had to vacate their official residence.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2019 10:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).