New Delhi, July 22 (Reporter) The Supreme Court today criticised former Bihar MLA Avinash Kumar Singh for holding on to government accommodation long after his tenure ended, calling such conduct unacceptable. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran, and Justice NV Anjaria was hearing Singh’s challenge to a Patna High Court order that upheld the Bihar government’s demand of nearly Rs 21 lakh as rent for overstaying in the allotted government residence. Expressing displeasure, CJI Gavai remarked, “One should not hold on to government accommodation endlessly.” The bench declined to entertain Singh’s petition, allowing him instead to withdraw it with liberty to pursue any other remedy available under law. Earlier, Singh had filed a writ petition in the Patna High Court seeking to quash the government’s order deducting Rs 20,98,757 as house rent for overstaying in a quarter allotted to him during his tenure as MLA from 2006 to 2015. The High Court dismissed his plea, noting that he continued to occupy the residence even after his term ended and despite being asked to vacate in November 2015 to make way for a minister. The single-judge writ plea was withdrawn in January 2016, and a suit against forcible eviction was also withdrawn. Subsequently, in August 2016, Singh was served with a notice demanding rent for the period he overstayed. His second writ petition challenging the demand was dismissed in January 2021, following which he filed a Letters Patent Appeal before a division bench, which too upheld the government’s demand. The High Court had strongly criticised Singh’s conduct, observing, “The moment he ceased to be an MLA, he ought to have vacated the quarter immediately and should have sought an alternative accommodation as per norms. Instead, he continued to illegally occupy government quarter No. 3, Taylor Road, Patna, and pressured authorities to regularise it in his favour. His conduct was improper and arbitrary.” The court found the penal rent demand justified and imposed an interest of 6% per annum on the outstanding amount from August 24, 2016, till payment, due to his “obstinacy” in refusing to vacate the quarter despite repeated notices...////...