The Maharashtra government has framed a policy on the the chief minister’s discretionary housing quota. The move comes in the wake of several allegations of indiscretion in allotment of houses under the quota.

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Government pleader Dhairyasheel Nalavade informed the Bombay high court on Monday that they have framed a policy under which the tenements would be allotted under the CM’s quota.

Initially, there was no specific policy for the purpose. But, several petitions and public interest litigations were filed alleging misuse of the discretionary power, stating that often tenements were allotted to relatives and kin of ministers.

Nalavade informed the division bench of justice PB Majmudar and justice Mridula Bhatkar that a policy has been framed as per earlier directions of the high court.

The policy was framed on November 30. According to the new policy, 50% quota would be reserved for state government employees. The remaining 50% would be for MPs, MLAs, journalists, sportspersons  or scientists who have won awards etc, said Nalavade.

Nalavade also said that the new policy was stricter and a person who already owns a government-allotted flat in Maharashtra will not be eligible for a second tenement.

The court was hearing a petition filed by TC Kaushik, an advocate with the Central government, alleging that a flat allotted to him in suburban Versova under the CM’s quota in 2005 was transferred to a third person behind his back.

Kaushik’s petition claims that he was allotted a tenement under the CM’s quota through a letter issued on September 5, 2005, by then principal secretary (housing). However, it was not handed over to him for four years.

Earlier, the high court had granted a stay on further allotments under the CM’s discretionary quota and directed the government to frame a new policy by January 17, 2012.