On June 10th, the Supreme Court extended the deadline for the Aam Aadmi Party to vacate its office at Rouse Avenue in New Delhi by nearly two months. The court had previously instructed the party to vacate the premises by June 15th, noting that the plot had been allocated to the Delhi High Court for expanding judicial infrastructure, as of March 4th. 

A vacation bench consisting of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta considered the arguments put forth by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the AAP and others, and extended the deadline until August 10. They emphasised that this was the final opportunity, and the party must hand over vacant possession of the building at 206, Rouse Avenue, by that date. 

The premises were allocated to the Delhi High Court in 2020 for developing infrastructure for the district judiciary in the national capital. Initially, Singhvi requested the bench to extend the deadline. 

Lawyer K Parmeshwar, appointed as amicus curiae to assist the Supreme Court in the matter, highlighted a shortage of 90 courtrooms for judicial officers. "We are facing severe conditions and may need to rent premises to accommodate newly-recruited judicial officers who are currently undergoing training," he said. 

Parmeshwar mentioned that the AAP sought a location in central Delhi, but alternative land elsewhere in the city was offered to them. "The premises in question were required to be vacated by June 15, 2024. These premises were allotted to the Delhi High Court back in 2020. The expansion of judicial infrastructure is at a standstill and cost is also a factor. This application seeks an extension of time until August 10, 2024," he added. 

"Considering the facts and circumstances and as a final opportunity, we extend the deadline until August 10, 2024, with the condition that the AAP provide an undertaking to the court registry within a week that they will hand over vacant and peaceful possession by that date," the bench ordered. 

On March 4, a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud ordered the Aam Aadmi Party to vacate its offices at Rouse Avenue in New Delhi by June 15, noting that the plot had been allocated to the Delhi High Court for expanding judicial infrastructure. The bench stated that the AAP had no lawful right to remain on the land and advised the party to approach the Land and Development Office under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry for office space allocation. 

Singhvi argued that the AAP, being one of the six national parties in the country, is entitled to land in the New Delhi municipal area corresponding to its status. "They are telling us that as a national party, we get nothing. I'm offered land in Badarpur, while everyone else is in better locations. A particular government does not want me to flourish and work," Singhvi said. 

Calling the AAP an "encroacher," Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court that the land allotment to the party was revoked in June 2017. Parameshwar told the bench that on June 13, 2017, the Delhi government's Public Works Department informed the AAP's National Secretary that the allotment of Bungalow no.206 at Rouse Avenue was revoked as directed by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. 

The AAP had previously denied that its offices at Rouse Avenue encroached on land allocated to the Delhi High Court, stating it was officially allotted by the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. During a hearing on judicial infrastructure on February 13, the amicus curiae reported that a "political party office" was encroaching on land meant for the High Court. 

The AAP noted that a subsequent cancellation notice was overturned by the High Court on August 23, 2017, and argued that office space allotment for party work is a crucial part of public election funding in India to level the electoral playing field. 

Image Source: The Hindu