NEW DELHI: Two former Cabinet ministers facing eviction from their official bungalow in Lutyens Delhi have moved the Delhi high court, terming it a violation of their constitutional rights.

Ambika Soni and Kumari Selja , Congress MPs in the Rajya Sabha, have petitioned the HC accusing the BJP-led Centre of “malafide against members of Opposition” for asking them to shift from Type VIII accommodation to Type VII. They were allotted the bungalows on Akbar Road and Motilal Nehru Marg, respectively, by the UPA government, days before it was shunted out of power.

In their petition, expected to be heard by the high court on Friday, the two MPs claim “important issue of constitutional law” is raised which can’t be decided by the Appellate Tribunal that usually hears appeals against eviction orders passed by Directorate of Estates.

Selja and Soni claim that as per terms of allotment finalized by the Rajya Sabha secretariat in March 2014, they are entitled to the bungalows as long as they remain an MP or till the time they retire.

Challenging the eviction, the MPs allege the urban development ministry and directorate of estates acted in “collusion” and are “hounding” them to vacate the premises, even though both are entitled to the accommodation by virtue of being a RS MP and a former Cabinet minister.

They also want the court to examine a list of all occupants of Type VII and Type VIII houses to verify eligibility, arguing eviction order is discriminatory. On Friday, the Centre is likely to defend the eviction order through additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain and standing counsel Jasmeet Singh.

Last month the Centre had asked the Congress MPs to vacate their official bungalows by June 10 after the rejection of privilege notices sent by the two against the eviction orders served on them.