‘For district judiciary’: SC orders AAP to vacate Delhi party office by 15 June

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to vacate its political office by 15 June.

The order to move out came as it is located on a plot that was allotted to the Delhi High Court. The land was meant for the expansion of a district court.

The top court, however, gave the party over three months to vacate in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“In view of the impending elections, we grant time till 15 June 2024 to vacate the premises so that the land which has been allotted for the purpose of expanding the footprint of the district judiciary can be duly utilised on an expeditious basis,” the court observed in the order.

It also asked the party to approach the central Land and Development Office to seek fresh land for its office. It also directed the office – under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs – to process AAP’s request and communicate its decision to the party within four weeks.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra noted that the Delhi High Court was in urgent need of premises to house new recruits, for which courtrooms were not available.

The AAP had argued that the plot – Bungalow No 206, Rouse Avenue – was allotted by the Delhi government in 2015 and  only in 2020 was it earmarked by the Land and Development Office for additional courtrooms of the Rouse Avenue Court complex.