KL News Network
Srinagar
The Delhi High Court Friday dismissed the plea of Payal Abdullah, estranged wife of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, for government housing on security ground, saying if her husband can shift to a private accommodation there is no reason to treat her differently.
“When Omar Abdullah himself has shifted to a private accommodation, there is no reason why the appellants can be treated differently. We do not see any merit in the appeal. The same is dismissed,” a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice V K Rao said.
By its judgement, the court upheld the single judge’s August 19, 2016 order asking her to vacate the 7, Akbar Road bungalow in Lutyen’s Delhi where she and her sons were residing. Payal and her sons had appealed for government accommodation on the ground that they enjoyed ‘Z’ and ‘Z plus’ security status, respectively.
The division bench noted that as per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), there was no immediate threat to them and this “cannot be questioned” as even the single judge had concluded that there was only a general threat perception regarding them.
The court rejected as “not sustainable” Payal’s plea that she and her sons were being discriminated against as some other persons KPS Gill and Subramanian Swamy have been given government accommodation on the basis of their security status. MHA had opposed her plea for government accommodation on the ground of security threat and said it is for Delhi Police to ensure safety for her stay in New Delhi.
