Govt begins search for Dhankhar's retirement home

NEW DELHI: With the govt accepting the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar and EC set to start the process of electing a new VP, the housing and urban affairs ministry has a task in hand - getting a retirement home for Dhankhar in Lutyens' Delhi. As per rule, the occupant of a designated govt accommodation gets 30 days to vacate it, officials said.

A former VP is entitled for a Type-VIII bungalow - the highest category - and usually such an accommodation is provided in the Lutyens' bungalow zone. TOI has learnt that a bungalow in this category is available on K Kamraj Marg. Two former VPs - Hamid Ansari and M Venkaiah Naidu - have been allotted bungalows in the national capital.

News agency PTI on Wednesday said Dhankhar's family has begun packing their belongings and plans to soon move out of the Vice President's Enclave.

Earlier there were claims on social media that the VP's official residence had been sealed and Dhankhar had been asked to vacate the residence immediately, which the Press Information Bureau's Fact Check said was "fake".

Officials said the govt would follow the norm of giving 30 days time for vacating official accommodation, and similarly, there will be termination of personal staff who are co-terminus with the ex-VP.

Dhankhar had moved into the newly constructed VP Enclave on Church Road near North Block in April last year. Sources said Dhankhar got several modifications done to the complex, including building a swimming pool, and on several occasions he had complained of "poor" workmanship.