Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has directed the Central Government to submit its reply to the petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which seeks temporary allotment of land for its office. AAP has alleged discriminatory treatment by the government, citing unequal allocation of land to political parties on DDU Road in Central Delhi.
Justice Subramaniam Prasad remarked on the disparity, stating that AAP was being relegated to a distant location compared to other parties. The court highlighted the Supreme Court’s directive for the government to vacate AAP’s current office on DDU Marg by June 15, originally designated for family courts.
The high court scheduled the next hearing for May 20, considering two petitions by AAP requesting either temporary or permanent land allocation in Central Delhi. During Wednesday’s proceedings, the Central Government’s counsel, Kirtiman Singh, asserted the government’s obligation to vacate the DDU Marg premises. Singh mentioned AAP’s previous refusal of land in Saket in 2024, and emphasized that before 2023, when AAP attained national party status, it never sought land in Central Delhi.
Singh stated that in 2023, AAP expressed interest in land on DDU Marg, which was subsequently inspected but found unavailable. Instead, the government offered two plots in Saket in 2024.
Senior lawyer Sudhir Nandrajog proposed reallocating plots held by an AAP minister for the party’s office, subject to the minister’s willingness to surrender them. The court queried the feasibility of using these plots for office purposes.
The government’s counsel clarified that the plots were not officially allotted to AAP but were occupied without authorization. He insisted on the plots’ vacation before consideration for AAP’s use. He added that his office was situated in Kaushambi.
Nandrajog countered, questioning the fairness of the government’s stance and challenging the existence of waiting lists for national political parties. He also raised doubts about the practicality of constructing a building by June 15 if land were allocated.
During yesterday’s hearing, the court proposed temporary use of the minister’s occupied plots for AAP’s office pending resolution of the petitions.
Also Read: Delhi High Court Declines to Cap Airfares, Cites Effective Regulation and Competitive Industry
