Delhi HC directs Omar Abdullah’s wife to vacate govt bungalow

The Delhi high court on Friday told Payal Abdullah, the estranged wife of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, that she will have to vacate the bungalow in Lutyen’s zone after the Centre said there is “no imminent threat” against her.

“Nobody is denying you security, but you will have to shift the accommodation,”Justice Indermeet Kaur said taking note of Centre’s submission that Payal will be given similar security arrangement in her new house.

Justice Kaur passed an order after Payal’s counsel failed to come forward with a date on which she would be able to shift to another accommodation in the capital.

The Centre submitted a report saying that there is “no imminent threat” to her, but the general threat perceived is from Kashmiri militant for being a member of Abdullah family. The report also said the security threat is not as high in Delhi as in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier this week, Payal failed to get any relief from a Delhi court that directed her to vacate the bungalow in Lutyen’s Zone in the heart of Delhi where she has been living since 1999.

Read | Vacate govt accommodation: Delhi court to estranged wife of Omar Abdullah

The Centre and Jammu and Kashmir government told the high court that the 7, Akbar Road bungalow has been designated for the chief minister.

Payal had moved the court seeking a stay on the June 30 eviction order issued by Jammu and Kashmir’s estate officer. She had claimed that she enjoys Z category security cover, and each of her sons has Z plus security, comprising of a total 94 personnel, who operate on three shifts.

She said the personnel, their weapons and other security arrangements cannot be accommodated at her private flat in the city. She contended that she will not get the same level of protection in the new accommodation.

Read | Delhi HC protects Omar Abdullah’s family from eviction till July 28

Countering the argument, the Centre said that her husband and father-in-law stay in private location when they are in the capital and Delhi Police have been providing them adequate security

The Centre’s counsel said she can’t claim that adequate security will not be provided to her.