SC Orders AAP to Vacate Headquarters on Land Meant for High Court

The party has been instructed to apply for alternate land through the Centre’s Land and Development Office, emphasizing their lack of legal entitlement to the current premises.

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, along with Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, directed AAP to expedite their application process, with a stipulated response time of four weeks from the L&DO. The court’s decision stems from a February observation highlighting AAP’s encroachment on land designated for the expansion of the Delhi High Court.

In response to the court’s directives, the state government had pledged to vacate the premises within two months, contingent upon the provision of alternative land. However, progress on the matter stagnated, prompting the Supreme Court’s intervention.

Expressing discontent over the delay, Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the importance of upholding the law and reclaiming the land for public use. He urged prompt action from government officials to resolve the issue in collaboration with the High Court.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta questioned the necessity of providing AAP with alternate land, advocating for their immediate evacuation. He underscored the government’s prerogative in allocating the land, emphasizing the urgency of restoring it to its intended purpose.

In response to AAP’s claim of entitlement as a national political party, the Chief Justice rebuked their stance, cautioning against leveraging the court for personal gain. The court’s previous criticism of the Delhi government’s apathy towards judiciary infrastructure funding was reiterated, highlighting the need for expeditious action to address long-standing grievances in the judicial system.