In a significant administrative move, the official residences of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Malerkotla are set to be vacated. This action is being taken to provide official accommodation for a newly appointed Sessions Judge for the Malerkotla district.
High Court Directive Triggers the Move
The decision stems from a direct order issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court has mandated the state government to ensure the provision of suitable residential facilities for the judicial officer. Consequently, the Malerkotla district administration has been instructed to initiate the process of vacating the two key residences.
The residences in question are the DC's bungalow located in the Model Town area and the SSP's house situated in the Police Lines. Both properties are government-owned and are currently occupied by the top civil and police officials of the district.
Administrative Repercussions and Next Steps
This development has set in motion a chain of administrative relocations. The Deputy Commissioner and the SSP will now need to be allotted alternative official accommodation. The district administration is actively identifying other suitable government properties to house these senior officers without disrupting their official duties.
The creation of Malerkotla as a separate district in 2021 has increased the demand for judicial infrastructure. The posting of a full-time Sessions Judge is a crucial step in strengthening the district's legal framework. However, the shortage of readily available high-standard government housing has led to this unusual situation where executive residences are being repurposed for the judiciary.
A Signal of Judicial Priority
This move underscores the priority given by the higher judiciary to ensuring that judicial officers have proper facilities. It also highlights the practical challenges faced in infrastructure development following the creation of new districts. The Malerkotla administration is now tasked with a delicate balancing act: complying with the High Court's order while simultaneously securing appropriate living quarters for its own senior-most officials.
The timeline for the vacating process is expected to be swift, as the High Court's directive is typically treated with utmost urgency. This incident is likely to prompt a broader review of the availability of residential quarters for both judicial and executive officers in newly carved districts across the state.
