Don't allow MPs, MLAs more than three months arrears in payment: HC

New Delhi, Aug 8: The Delhi High Court on Friday asked NDMC, MTNL, BSNL and any other municipalities or governmental agencies providing any chargeable amenities/facilities like electricity, water and telephone to the MPs, MLAs and political parties "not allow arrears of more than of three months of charges to accumulate". "If the said charges are in arrears for three months, the facility/amenity/utility be disconnected forthwith, of course in accordance with law," said a division bench of Chief Justice G.Rohini and R.S. Endlaw. In the judgment, the bench asked the agency providing such facility/amenity/utility to within six months after the disconnection initiate proceedings for recovery/realization of the amounts due. "The agency providing such facilities/amenities/utilities to also intimate the said arrears to the secretary of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha or of the legislative assembly of which the occupant is a member and the secretariat of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha or the legislative assembly of which the said occupant may be a member to use his/her good offices to ensure payment and take such other steps as may be permissible in law," the court added. It asked the secretariats of both houses of parliament and the legislative assembly as well as the House Allotment Committee to within six months explore as to whether any action for cancellation of allotment of the house of such occupant in arrears or of putting a stop to any further allotments in favour of members of the political party to whom the occupant in default belongs can be initiated and make such a provision. The court's order came on a public interest litigation filed by NGO Krishak Bharat filed in 1998 alleging that some former MPs vacated their official residences after their tenures ended without paying electricity, water and telephone dues.