Former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar is set to move to a private accommodation in South Delhi’s Chattarpur Enclave, The Indian Express has learnt. He has also re-applied for pension as a former MLA of the Rajasthan Assembly.
The vice-presidential elections are scheduled for September 9, and Dhankhar (74) has to vacate the V-P’s official residence on Church Road, near the Parliament House Complex, before that. He had stepped down from his post on July 21, citing health reasons.
Dhankhar had moved into the V-P’s official residence in April last year. According to sources, until he gets government accommodation, he will remain at Chattarpur Enclave.
As per the rules, former Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Prime Ministers are allotted a Type-8 bungalow. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (Directorate of Estates) is responsible for arranging the accommodation.
According to sources, officials from the ministry had visited Dhankhar, but the topic of his next accommodation was not discussed.
Dhankhar’s office has submitted a formal requisition for housing in line with the rules. “Once the requisition is received, available options are presented to the former Vice-President. Following the selection, the Central Public Works Department begins the necessary work, including modifications. The entire process typically takes at least three months,” a source said.
However, since with little headway in this process, Dhankhar has opted for a private residential accommodation in the interim, sources said.
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Meanwhile, he has re-applied to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariat for pension as a former legislator.
A former MLA from Rajasthan’s Kishangarh between 1993 and 1998, Dhankhar had been receiving MLA’s pension until 2019, when he was appointed the Governor of West Bengal. He was elected Vice-President in 2022.
According to sources, the Rajasthan Assembly Secretariat has begun processing his request.
Dhankhar, also a former MP from Jhunjhunu from 1989 to 1991, will receive his pension from the date that his resignation as Vice-President was accepted. According to sources, a one-time MLA gets Rs 35,000 per month as pension, with this sum progressively increasing with additional terms and age.
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Septuagenarians like Dhankhar receive a 20 per cent hike. As a result, Dhankhar is entitled to Rs 42,000 per month as a former legislator, sources said.
This is apart from the pensions he would draw as the former Vice-President of India and an ex-MP.
As the former vice-president, Dhankhar is entitled to a pension of nearly Rs 2 lakh per month. As a one-term MP, he is entitled to Rs 45,000 per month as pension, besides other benefits.
