HC asks Payal Abdullah to ‘gracefully’ vacate govt bungalow

New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) Delhi High Court today directedPayal Abdullah, the estranged wife of former Jammu and KashmirChief Minister Omar Abdullah, to "gracefully" vacate thegovernment accommodation she has been residing in with her twosons. Payal, who has been residing at 7, Akbar Road bungalowsince 1999, however, refused to move out and urged the courtto pass an order. The court then said a detailed order will be passed withregard to the time within which she and her children will haveto vacate the bungalow. "Will you gracefully evict or I should pass an order?"Justice Indermeet Kaur asked Payal’s counsel, whocategorically stated that the court should pass the order. The judge also orally observed that every person whoretires from the office has to move out. The judge also noted that Delhi Police will providesecurity to Payal and her children, who are ‘Z’ and ‘Z plus’security protectees, during their stay in the capital. On August 16, a trial court too, had asked Payal to moveout of the house in Lutyen’s zone here. The high court was hearing Payal’s plea seeking that sheand her children be not evicted from 7, Akbar Road (type VIII)bungalow here or an alternative accommodation be provided inview of their security status and threat to their lives. The Centre, however, opposed her contention to retain theaccommodation on the ground of security threat and said it isfor Delhi Police to ensure her safety for her stay here. The Centre, through its counsel Anurag Ahluwalia,appearing for Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), submitted thatthere is no substantial reduction in the security given toPayal since she started living in the present bungalow. "Delhi Police will take care of the security personnelwho will be deployed at the residence where she will move,"the MHA counsel said. The Centre told the court that government accommodation,on security grounds, is given only to SPG protectees. It said that a "general threat to them is perceived fromKashmiri militants for being the family member of OmarAbdullah and Farooq Abdullah, and in Delhi their threatquotient is assessed to be not as high as in Kashmir". The Centre also said there is "no input with itindicating any specific or imminent threat to Payal Abdullah".(more) PTI PPS HMP AGDV