The Supreme Court of India has directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to vacate its political office by June 15. The court has granted the ruling party of Delhi additional time to vacate the premises in light of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The directive to vacate the office was issued as the location is situated on a plot that had been allocated to the Delhi High Court for the purpose of expanding a district court. The Supreme Court has also instructed AAP to approach the Land and Development Office for the allotment of land for its offices.
The court has ordered the Land and Development Office to process the party's request within a four-week timeframe. It has also asked the department to communicate its decision within the specified period.
AAP argued that its party office near the Rouse Avenue court does not constitute an encroachment since it was allocated long before the plot was designated for the extension of the court. AAP's lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, stated that the land was utilized by the NCT between 1993 and 2015, at which point it was allocated to AAP. He highlighted that AAP is one of India's six national parties.
Singhvi noted that the BJP has an office of comparable size in the same area. However, he added that they are "put on the road" two months before the elections. Singhvi claimed that AAP has been directed to establish its office in Delhi's Badarpur area. He also claimed that the Land and Development Office has two plots in the same area that could be allocated to AAP.
Singhvi argued that if AAP is directed to relocate to Badarpur, all other parties should be required to do the same. He suggested that the party should at least be granted a space in central Delhi.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud subsequently granted AAP time until June 15, 2024, to vacate the premises "so that land allotted to extend district judiciary footprint" can be utilized.
(With inputs from PTI)
