The Supreme Court on Monday, March 4, directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to vacate its office at Rouse Avenue in New Delhi by June 15, 2024. The plot on which AAP has its office was allotted to the Delhi High Court for the expansion of judicial infrastructure.
A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra has asked AAP to approach the Land And Development Office (L&DO) for allotment of land for its offices, pointing out that Lok Sabha elections are impending. The bench said that the party has been unlawfully occupying the premises since 2015, as it had been allotted to the Delhi High Court.
The Supreme Court bench said, “In view of impending general elections, we grant time till June 15, 2024, to vacate the premises so that land allotted to extend the district judiciary footprint can be used for the purpose." The court has also asked the L&DO to provide an alternate proposal to the Rouse Avenue Courts within four weeks.
The issue came to the fore while the court was dealing with a case concerning judicial infrastructure across the country.
Amicus Curiae K Parameshwar informed the court on February 13 that even though Delhi High Court officials went to take possession of land allotted to the High Court, they could not do so as AAP was functioning its office in those premises, as per Bar and Bench.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for AAP, highlighted that the party had been allotted an alternate site in Badarpur instead of Central Delhi, where most of the national parties have their offices.
The party also stated that its office in the Rouse Avenue Court area is not an encroachment, as it was allotted to the party long before it was earmarked for the extension of the court complex.
However, the party said that it is aware of the necessity of judicial infrastructure for the welfare of Delhi’s citizens. It added that the party is ready to relocate its state unit office to another location. The party added that its requests were not heeded by L&DO for an alternative space.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the L&DO, stressed that the High Court and district courts cannot be held captive by a party. It added that the land in question was allotted to the Delhi government for the expansion of family courts in New Delhi.
(Edited by : Ajay Vaishnav)
First Published: Mar 4, 2024 9:52 PM IST
