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**Summary:**

The Delhi High Court is scrutinizing the process by which the Union government allots government residences. This comes as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seeks a bungalow for its national convener, Arvind Kejriwal. The court has criticized the government’s lack of a transparent mechanism for prioritization, stating allotments cannot be based on “whims.” The Centre disclosed that the specific bungalow AAP requested has already been allotted to a Union Minister. The court has directed the government to provide its allotment policy and waiting list details. AAP argues that the bungalow was allocated to someone else while the Centre was supposedly considering their request, even though Mr. Kejriwal is entitled to one government residence in Delhi, provided he neither owns a house nor occupies one in any other official capacity.

**News Article:**

**Delhi High Court Questions Government Residence Allotment Process in AAP Plea**

*New Delhi, September 19, 2025* – The Delhi High Court has raised serious concerns about the transparency and fairness of the government’s process for allocating official residences. The court’s scrutiny comes during a hearing on a petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), seeking a bungalow for its national convener and former Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal.

Justice Sachin Datta expressed dissatisfaction with what he called the government’s seemingly arbitrary approach, stating that allotments “cannot be purely on your whims” and demanding a “transparent mechanism” for determining priorities. He directed senior officials from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Directorate of Estates to appear virtually before the court on September 25th to explain the procedures and criteria used.

The court’s intervention was prompted by AAP’s request for a Type VII bungalow at 35, Lodhi Estate. However, the Centre revealed that the residence had already been allotted to Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, on July 24th.

Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing AAP, argued that the Centre had allotted the bungalow to someone else while it was still supposedly considering AAP’s application for the residence. He further argued that Mr. Kejriwal is entitled to one government residence in Delhi, provided he neither owns a house nor occupies one in any other official capacity as per accommodation guidelines. The bungalow was vacated by Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati earlier this year.

The High Court has ordered the Centre to submit its policy governing the allotment of residences from the general pool, including the current waiting list, by September 18th. The case highlights ongoing questions about the equitable distribution of government resources and the need for clear, justifiable processes in allocating official accommodations.

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