“How can a political office be built on Delhi HC land?” On SC’s comment, AAP said- “Encroachment

The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over the land of Aam Aadmi Party’s office located at Rouse Avenue. The court expressed surprise on this issue. The Supreme Court said that it is surprising that the office of a political party is running on the land of Delhi High Court. This land should be returned to Delhi High Court. The Chief Secretary of Delhi Government, PWD Secretary and Finance Secretary should have a meeting with the Registrar General of the High Court before the next date and the matter should be resolved. AAP has issued a statement on this entire matter. He said that there has been no encroachment. Along with this it was alleged that the Center has presented wrong facts to mislead the Supreme Court.

Aam Aadmi Party issued statement
At the same time, Aam Aadmi Party has clearly denied this and said that the party office located in Rouse Avenue, Delhi was not built on any encroached land. It is surprising that the Central Government gave wrong facts to mislead the Honorable Supreme Court. We will present documents before the court that this land has been allotted to the Aam Aadmi Party by the Delhi Government. Since 1992, this same land was allotted to IAS officers and three ministers. There is no encroachment of any kind in this. We will present all valid documents before the Supreme Court along with our reply.

What did DY Chandrachud say during the hearing?
During the hearing, DY Chandrachud said that no one can take the law into his own hands. How can any political party sit on it? The High Court should be given possession. What will HC use it for? Only for the public and citizens. We direct that the Chief Secretary of Delhi Government, PWD Secretary and Finance Secretary should convene a meeting with the Registrar General of the High Court before the next date. So that all issues can be resolved. All encroachments will be removed. This matter will be heard on Monday for further instructions.

What is the whole matter?
In fact, the amicus curiae Lord Parmeshwar informed the bench that the government had to take possession from one party and give it to us. When the officials went to take possession, they were told that the possession was in the hands of the Aam Aadmi Party. The court has taken note of this issue while dealing with a case related to judicial infrastructure across the country. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra was informed by amicus curiae Parameshwara that the office of a political party had been built there and they could not get the land back.

Delhi Government’s Law Secretary Bharat Parashar also told the court that the said land is with the Aam Aadmi Party since 2016.

Chief Justice expressed displeasure
The angry Chief Justice warned the lawyer appearing for the AAP-led Delhi government that the land should be returned to the High Court. In the last hearing, the apex court had found the Delhi District Judiciary indifferent to providing funds for infrastructure. Delhi government was criticized for its attitude. At that time, the CJI had said that approval had been given for three of the four projects by March 2021. However, funds were yet to be released for these projects.