Faced with a critical shortage of accommodation for officers, the Maharashtra government’s general administration department (GAD) has decided not to render housing to outgoing officials even if they reserve plum assignments after retirement.

In two such cases, GAD deputy secretary D P Deshmukh has notified the housing department that it will not be feasible for the government to render quarters to Kshatrapati Shivaji and SR Jagtap, both of whom reached superannuation lately. Shivaji, who retired as Secretary to the government of India (GoI) on March 31, and Kulkarni, who retired as sessions judge, have been selected on the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRera) appellate tribunal as members. In his letter, Deshmukh said because of the severe shortage of government quarters, even for serving officials, it would not be possible to house Shivaji and Jagtap.

Both Shivaji and Jagtap have been elected by the housing department. As such it is the responsibility of the housing department to render them accommodation. In fact, on October 10, 2006, the government had decided not to render accommodation to retired bureaucrats, who are selected on commissions, corporations and committees, as per Deshmukh. While the October 10, 2006 order was inked by undersecretary S S Supe, Rameshchandra Kanade was the GAD secretary then. Kanade contended that the government should not take responsibility for rendering housing to retired officials, who are appointed on corporations and commissions. Yet, bowing to pressure from the bureaucracy, the order was never executed.

Deshmukh told the media that as retired officials are not elected by the GAD, it becomes tough for GAD to recover penal rent from them. In several cases, it was found that even after their tenure ended, they did not leave the official quarters. As of now, a record number of 70 high-ranking transferred or retired officials have not vacated their official quarters. Due to which 70 quarters are not available to serving bureaucrats and senior officials. Typically, most officials begin lobbying with the chief minister’s office for an extension or a post-retirement sinecure at least six months before superannuation. They additionally try to guarantee that they get to keep their old quarters and a chauffeur-driven vehicle.

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