Written by Sohini GhoshNew Delhi | September 19, 2025 05:40 AM IST 3 min readIt further directed that the affidavit “also disclose allotments in the past and how the extant policy is applied”.The Union government on Thursday informed the Delhi High Court that the Type VI bungalow at 35, Lodi Estate, which AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal had suggested be allocated to him, has been allotted to Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in July.Orally reiterating that residential allotment cannot be based “purely on whims” and a “transparent mechanism” has to be in place, Justice Sachin Datta directed the joint secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the director of the Directorate of Estates to remain present virtually on September 25, the next date of hearing.The court was hearing a plea moved by AAP last October, seeking the allotment of a residence for Kejriwal, saying he is entitled to it as per an office memorandum of July 31, 2014, which states that “one residential accommodation would be allotted/allowed to be retained by the party president of a recognised national party provided that no other accommodation has been allotted to him/her in any other capacity”.The court also directed that the extant policy followed by the government for residential allotment be brought on its record in an affidavit. It further directed that the affidavit “also disclose allotments in the past and how the extant policy is applied”.In its petition, AAP has pointed out that it wrote a letter on April 17, 2023, to the Directorate of Estates requesting that a residential accommodation be allocated to the AAP national secretary “in a centrally located area of New Delhi”. The letter was never responded to, following which the party sent three reminders dated August 22, 2023, September 13, 2023, and August 21, 2024.On August 26, the court had sought that the government produce before it records with regard to bungalow allotment. It has not been done till date. Assuring the court that a compendium shall be brought on the court’s record, the government counsel on Thursday said that the bungalow on 35, Lodi Estate, was allotted well before August, on July 24.Justice Datta, addressing the government’s counsel, orally remarked, “Is there a procedure in place? I want to see how this procedure has been applied in the past… How priority is taken into account, sequence of allotment? You yourself are saying that Union ministers form a class in themselves. How do you treat different distinct classes? Assuming there is a limited number of bungalows, how do you decide? There has to be a transparent mechanism; it can’t be purely on your whims… as long as there is a clear discernible policy… I want to know the manner of assessing priority… I’m concerned with the larger issue as to how the discretion is applied (in allotment of Type VIII bungalows).”Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:AAPArvind Kejriwal