MC to recover house rent from official for overstay

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to recover rent from a former joint commissioner, Hardeep Singh, who overstayed at his official accommodation in Rani Ka Bagh area even after his transfer. Confirming the development, MC Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh said that the rent amount is currently being evaluated and will be collected from the officer as per official rules. The officer was promoted as Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) and posted to Pathankot in September 2024, but had continued to occupy the government house for around 10 months after his transfer. According to regulations, a transferred officer must vacate government accommodation within six months of transfer. However, the officer stayed beyond this permitted period.

On May 15, 2025, the MC Assistant Commissioner served a notice to the officer to vacate the house, followed by another notice from the Estate Officer on June 30 this year. Following these repeated notices, the accommodation was finally vacated recently. According to information received, four official houses in Rani Ka Bagh are allotted to senior officials, including the Chief Sanitary Officer, Law Officer, Assistant Medical Health Officer, and the now-transferred Joint Commissioner. The MC had earlier set a precedent by recovering penal rent from former Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu in a similar case as he occupied the MC Commissioner’s house for some months.

Amritsar