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Congress occupied 24 Akbar Road headquarters without authorisation since 2013: RTI

Published July 8, 2026 at 1:14 PM UTC

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The Congress party has been in "unauthorised occupation" of its former headquarters at 24, Akbar Road since June 26, 2013, according to a Right to Information (RTI) response obtained by India Today. The Directorate of Estates, under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, stated that the bungalow was allotted to the Congress on August 7, 1992, but its allotment was cancelled effective June 26, 2013. Despite this, the party has continued to occupy the premises without paying rent since that date. The government has not received any rent for the property during this period, and the outstanding dues are "under review and yet to be determined." The RTI applicant also sought information regarding notices issued to the Congress to vacate the bungalow. The Directorate declined to provide such records, stating that compiling them would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority under Section 7(9) of the RTI Act. This revelation follows a previous RTI response from 2018, which indicated that the licence fee for 24, Akbar Road had been revised to Rs 3,920 per month with effect from July 1, 2017. The Congress party's request for retention of the bungalow and charging of the normal licence fee was under consideration at that time. The recent RTI disclosure highlights the ongoing issue of political parties occupying government properties without proper authorisation. In 2015, the Congress received a notice from the Urban Development Ministry to vacate four bungalows in Delhi, including 24, Akbar Road. Despite the cancellation of allotments, the party continues to occupy these properties. The situation underscores the complexities involved in the allocation and utilisation of government properties by political entities. The Congress party has yet to respond publicly to the latest RTI findings. The matter raises questions about the adherence to government policies regarding the use of public properties and the accountability of political parties in this context. The issue also brings to light the broader debate over the utilisation of government accommodations by political parties and the need for transparent and fair allocation processes. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the Congress party will address the findings of the RTI report and whether any actions will be taken to resolve the unauthorised occupation of 24, Akbar Road.