Free facilities to former governor questioned.

The Times of India:Thursday, February 02, 2012.

JAIPUR: The state government has received a representation from two Jaipur residents questioning the free facilities being provided to former Rajasthan and Gujarat governor Anshuman Singh.

The representation made by journalist Milap Chand Dandia and advocate Vimal Chaudhary states that even though there existed no legal provision for it, the government was allowing Singh to avail free facilities and that too at a par with an incumbent governor.

"Since 2004, the government has spent around Rs 4 crore on providing a free house, electricity, water, vehicle, driver and armed security to the former governor," Dandia said, quoting information obtained by him under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Dandia had earlier filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on the issue before the high court, which last month directed him to first approach the state government for a remedy. A division bench headed by chief justice Arun Kumar Mishra had then ordered that the petitioner could file a fresh petition if the government failed to address the issue.

The representation submitted to chief secretary Salauddin Ahmed states that neither the Governors (Emoluments) Allowances and Privilege Act, 1982, nor the Rules of 1987 framed in accordance with this Act allow any pension benefits to former governors. "Still the government is granting free facilities to Singh. This is arbitrary and illegal," said advocate Chaudhary.

It was mentioned that the state general administration department had estimated a cost of Rs 1.20 lakh per month on the facilities proposed to be provided to Singh in 2004. "The truth is that just the salaries of the static security guards provided to Singh come to Rs 1.07 lakh per month," Dandia said.

As per information gathered by the duo under the RTI Act, the government made an estimated annual expenditure of Rs 12.84 lakh on the static security guards, Rs 8.64 lakh on the escort vehicle and personal security guard, Rs 13.44 lakh on chauffeur-driven car and its fuel, Rs 6 lakh as house rent, Rs 3 lakh on electricity and water, Rs 80,000 on furniture, Rs 85,842 on the house's repairs and Rs 7.20 lakh on maintenance of the house provided to Singh in the past over seven years.

"This is probably the only case in the country wherein free facilities are being given to a former governor," Dandia said.