In a big setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the party to vacate its headquarters in Delhi for judicial infra by June 15.
The party currently has its party headquarters on land allotted for an expansion project of the Delhi High Court. The Supreme Court, while announcing the order, gave the party a deadline of June 15. The party has been allowed to apply to the Centre’s Land and Development Office for alternate land.
In February, the apex court observed that AAP’s office was encroaching on the land and expressed shock and displeasure that the AAP is encroaching on the land originally allotted to the Delhi High Court for its expansion for infrastructure purposes.
Also Read: ‘Didn’t encroach high court land, was allotted’: AAP informs Supreme Court
During the hearing, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had said, “No one can take law into their own hands. How can a political party sit tight on that? Unencumbered possession must be given to the High Court. What will the High Court use it for? Only for the public and citizens. Why was the land then allotted to the High Court?”
The party denied the allegations and accused the Centre of making incorrect submissions to mislead the top court.
“The Aam Aadmi Party vehemently and categorically denies that the party’s political headquarters situated at Rouse Avenue in Delhi is constructed on encroached land. It is appalling that the Central Government has made incorrect submissions to mislead the Hon’ble Supreme Court. We will submit documents before the Hon’ble Court which shall clearly show that the land has been allotted to the Aam Aadmi Party by the Government of Delhi. Be it noted, that the same land, since 1992 has been allotted to IAS officers & three ministers. There has been no encroachment whatsoever,” the statement from the party read.
Also Read: No encroachment can be permitted in Delhi’s ridge areas: High Court
“We will present all valid documents before the Supreme Court with our reply,” it continued.
The land has been with the AAP since 2016, Bharat Parashar, Law Secretary to the Delhi Government informed the court.
On Monday, the CJI said no one can take the law into their own hands. Underscoring that it is a case of encroachment, the Supreme Court gave the party the long deadline in view of the coming Lok Sabha elections.
