Bihar Ministers and Legislators to Get Two Official Residences; Here’s the Catch

Patna, Jan 14:
The Bihar government, under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has announced that state ministers, as well as certain senior legislators, will now be eligible for two official residences. However, the allotment of a second residence comes with specific conditions, including payment of a standard rent.

Who Gets a Second Residence?

The decision applies to ministers, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. In addition to residences allocated from the central government pool, officials will now have access to additional properties identified under the Legislative Assembly pool, subject to compliance with certain terms.

Senior Legislators Also Eligible

The government has extended this facility to senior members of the legislature who are not currently part of the Council of Ministers. A total of 15 residences from the central government pool will be conditionally allotted to these legislators, alongside their constituency-designated residence from the legislative pool, at a prescribed rent.

Criteria for Central Pool Residences

According to the Department of Building Construction, only members who meet one or more of the following conditions will be eligible for a second residence:

• Have served six or more terms as a legislator.
• Have been a state cabinet minister at least once.
• Have been a state cabinet minister at least three times.
• Have previously held the office of Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister.

Details from the Building Construction Department

Kumar Ravi, Secretary of the Building Construction Department, stated that 243 residences have been constructed for members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, each covering 3,681 sq ft, and are allocated constituency-wise. For the Legislative Council members, 75 residences of the same size have been built and similarly allocated. Legislators opting for an additional residence will be required to pay a pre-determined standard rent.

This move is expected to streamline official housing provisions for Bihar’s top legislators while maintaining structured guidelines for eligibility and rental obligations.