Patna: In a significant setback for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Rabri Devi, the Patna High Court has revoked her entitlements as a former Bihar Chief Minister, including her sprawling government bungalow at 10 Circular Road.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, mandates that the three-time former CM vacate the iconic residence, ending decades of privileged access to state facilities.
The court’s decision stems from a public interest litigation challenging the Bihar government’s 2015 order, which allowed Rabri Devi to retain the bungalow and other ex-CM perks despite rules limiting such benefits to one term. The bench, comprising Justices A K Singh and Anshuman Pandey, declared the allocation “arbitrary” and a misuse of public resources, directing the state to reclaim the property within three months.
Rabri Devi, who served as Bihar’s CM from 1997 to 2005, has resided in the high-security bungalow for nearly three decades, even after her husband, Lalu Prasad Yadav, faced disqualification. The residence, a symbol of RJD’s political legacy, also housed party offices, making it a hub of Opposition activity. The ruling has sparked a political storm, with the RJD slamming it as “vendetta politics” by the BJP-led NDA government, while BJP leaders hailed it as a victory for accountability.
As the deadline looms, speculation swirls about Rabri Devi’s next move, with supporters rallying outside the bungalow. The verdict could reshape Bihar’s political landscape, spotlighting the contentious issue of ex-CM privileges.