In a recent Supreme Court hearing, the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud expressed astonishment and concern over the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) alleged encroachment on land designated for the Delhi High Court. The matter came to light when the court questioned the presence of the AAP’s office on Rouse Avenue, which was reportedly built on land initially allocated to the Delhi High Court.
Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the importance of the rule of law and questioned the propriety of a political party occupying such a significant piece of land. He stressed that the land should be in the unencumbered possession of the High Court, which intends to use it solely for public and judicial purposes.
The Supreme Court has urged immediate action, directing a meeting to be held between key officials of the Delhi Government and the Registrar General of the High Court to find a resolution before the next hearing scheduled for Monday.
The issue was highlighted by Amicus Curiae K Parameshwar, who informed the court that Delhi High Court officials were unable to reclaim the land due to the construction of the AAP office on the premises. This revelation came amidst discussions on judicial infrastructure across the country.
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The land has reportedly been in AAP’s possession since 2016, as confirmed by Bharat Parashar, the Law Secretary to the Delhi Government. The Supreme Court had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the Delhi government’s reluctance to allocate funds for the district judiciary’s infrastructure, despite approvals for several projects.
In response to the allegations, the AAP has firmly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the land was officially allotted to them by the Government of Delhi, and there has been no encroachment. The party has pledged to present all relevant documents to the Supreme Court to clarify the situation.
