Delhi HC stays eviction notice to Payal Abdullah

New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed till July 28 a notice for evicting Payal Abdullah, the estranged wife of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, from a bungalow on the Akbar Road here.

Justice Indermeet Kaur issued notice to the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir government for their responses on the issue.

The court asked the Centre not to take coercive steps against Payal and her two sons.

Payal moved the High Court against the eviction notice issued on June 30 by the Estate Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir government for vacating Bungalow no. 7 on the Akbar Road.

She sought directions that she along with her sons be either allowed continued stay at 7, Akbar Road, or allotted another suitable government accommodation where the family's 94 security personnel can effectively protect them.

She said she moved the court as Omar Abdullah, in response to the Estate Officer's show cause notice, maintained that he was no longer in occupation of the said bungalow and hence the authorities were free to take whatever steps necessary to take over the residential accommodation.