In the quiet, tree-lined avenues of Lutyens' New Delhi, the allotment of government accommodation to former dignitaries and senior constitutional post-holders is governed by a meticulous set of rules. However, the post-retirement housing arrangements for former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar present a striking departure from standard administrative precedent. More than a year after resigning from the country's second-highest constitutional office, Dhankhar has yet to be allotted an official government bungalow. He currently resides in a private farmhouse located in the Chhatarpur area of New Delhi, a property owned by Indian National Lok Dal leader Abhay Singh Chautala. Despite the passage of significant time since his demission from office, the wait for an official residence shows no sign of resolution.
Resignation Circumstances and Temporary Stay at Chhatarpur
Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down from the position of Vice President on the evening of 21 July 2025 in a sudden move that drew widespread attention. In his formal letter of resignation addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar cited health reasons as the primary motivation for his decision, stating his desire to prioritize personal well-being and adhere to medical advice. However, the timing of his resignation triggered considerable political debate. Opposition leaders claimed that he had been pressured to demit office, pointing out that only hours prior to resigning, Dhankhar had accepted a notice in the Rajya Sabha submitted by opposition members seeking an inquiry into former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma.
Approximately six weeks after vacating his official office, on 1 September 2025, Dhankhar relocated to the Chhatarpur farmhouse. At that time, aides and individuals close to him described the move as a temporary arrangement while formal accommodations were finalized. More than twelve months later, however, this temporary location continues to serve as his primary residence. According to administrative officials, no official order allocating a government bungalow in the capital has been issued in his name to date.
Statutory Entitlements and Rules for Former Vice Presidents
Under the established rules governing the pension, housing, and post-retirement benefits of former Vice Presidents of India, a retired incumbent is entitled to rent-free, fully furnished accommodation for life at any location of their choice within the country. In locations such as New Delhi, where the central government maintains Type-VIII bungalows—the highest category of government residential accommodation—the rules mandate that a former Vice President be allotted a residence of this tier. If a Type-VIII bungalow is unavailable in a specified city, the highest available class of official housing must be provided.
Furthermore, the statutory framework contains built-in contingencies if suitable state-owned properties cannot be allocated. Rules specify that in the absence of an available government bungalow, the Union Government may lease a private residential property with a habitable area of approximately 2,000 square feet to serve as the official residence. Typically, such accommodations are drawn from the General Pool Residential Accommodation stock managed by the Directorate of Estates under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The standard procedure requires an explicit formal request to be submitted by the former dignitary or their office to the ministry.
Administrative Ambiguity and Ministry Stance
The prolonged delay in allotment highlights a growing administrative impasse between different government departments. Officials within the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs have stated that no formal application or official request for accommodation has been received from Dhankhar or his secretariat. Conversely, officials from the Directorate of Estates, which oversees the physical allocation and maintenance of government properties in Lutyens' Delhi, indicated that if a request had been initiated, it might remain under consideration at the ministerial level without having been formally transmitted to the estate management branch. Meanwhile, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has not issued any public clarification or statement regarding the matter.
Precedent and Contrast with M. Venkaiah Naidu
The current situation contrasts sharply with the transition experienced by Dhankhar's immediate predecessor, M. Venkaiah Naidu. Naidu demitted office upon completing his term on 11 August 2022. Within approximately two months, in October 2022, Naidu moved with his family into a spacious Type-VIII bungalow at 1 Tyagraj Marg in New Delhi, a property previously occupied by former Union Minister D. Sadananda Gowda.
Dhankhar's case is also notable because he was the first Vice President to occupy the newly constructed Vice President Enclave located on Church Road in the capital. Months after his retirement, estate department officials had informally indicated that a large Type-VIII bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi had been identified and kept ready for his allocation. Despite those early administrative signals, no official transfer or formal allotment has taken place. Consequently, questions persist not only regarding the availability of suitable housing, but also over where exactly within the bureaucratic hierarchy the approval process has stalled.
