he Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana has scrapped his predecessor's policy to allot plots to MPs and MLAs at throwaway prices. Bhupinder Singh Hooda's decision to allot plots to MPs and MLAs had irked many taxpayers. "It has been decided to withdraw the policy relating to allotment of land to sitting MPs and MLAs as there is no adequate justification," read a two-sentence letter issued by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) issued to its law officers. 79 residential plots in the posh parts of Panchkula, a satellite township of Chandigarh, were to be allotted to MPs and MLAs. As a result, the likes of Congress Legislature Party head in the Assembly Kiran Choudhry, former MP Naveen Jindal and his mother Savitri Jindal, former minister and current Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala, Bhupinder Hooda's MP son Deepender Hooda and former Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan lost out on their chance to benefit from the state government largesse.

The Bhupinder Singh Hooda government had cleared allotment of 350 square yard plots to these important persons at a concessional rate of Rs 28 lakh even though the market rate would have cost them some 10 times.

Panchkula-based Herald Group Housing Cooperative Society had moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court and filed a Public Interest Litigation seeking cancellation of these allotments. It claimed that the government was in violation of the Right to Equality enshrined in the Article 16 of the Indian Constitution. But the state government had argued that these dignitaries were being allotted plots in neighbouring town of Panchkula as they needed "adequate accommodation" when they visited the state capital of Chandigarh from their respective constituencies.

Staying the allotment, the High Court had earlier asked the state about the provisions made available to these MLAs. In response, the state said that there were 38 units and 56 rooms in Haryana MLA flats and Haryana Niwas in Sector 3, Chandigarh. Also, there were around 160 rooms and dormitories in various guesthouses of Haryana government in Chandigarh and Panchkula. In addition, the Chief Minister, ministers and chief Parliamentary secretaries of the state government were allotted government bungalows while they were in office.