Supreme Court gives Aam Aadmi Party time till June 15 to vacate its office on Rouse Avenue court land

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to vacate its office on the land belonging to the Rouse Avenue court by June 15 this year..A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said that AAP has been unlawfully occupying the premises since 2015 since it had been allotted to the Delhi High Court."After 2015, you are not lawful occupants of the land, and it cannot be denied", the CJI remarked.In its order, the top court stated,"In view of impending general elections, we grant time till June 15 , 2024 to vacate the premises so that land allotted to extend district judiciary footprint can be used for the purpose." The Court also permitted AAP to move the Land and Development Office (L&DO) for allotment of new land, with the L&DO being asked to communicate its decision to AAP within four weeks. "We direct the Chief Secretary of the L&DO to come up with an alternate proposal and submit before the Rouse Avenue Courts, since it is in urgent need of space," the apex court said. .The Court was dealing with a case concerning judicial infrastructure across the country.On February 13, the Supreme Court had made adverse observations against AAP after it was informed by Amicus Curiae K Parameshwar that even though Delhi High Court officials went to take possession of certain land allotted to the High Court, AAP's office was functioning in the said premises and they could not take possession of the land.The party had subsequently informed that its party office located at the Rouse Avenue court area is not an encroachment since it was lawfully allotted to AAP long before it was earmarked for the extension of the court complex.However, the party conceded that it is aware of the necessity of judicial infrastructure for the welfare of Delhi’s citizens and has no cavils about relocating its State unit office to an appropriate, alternative space.But the party insisted that there has been no explanation forthcoming on why due diligence was not exercised by the L&DO by examining the pre-existing status of the land and its vacancy.The party said that even though it made requests for an alternative space in 2017, the request was not heeded to..Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for AAP today, and pointed out that the party had been an alternate site in far-away Badarpur instead of Central Delhi like other national parties.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the L&DO, stated that the High Court and district courts cannot be held to ransom by a party. Further, the land in question was allotted to the Delhi government to expand family courts in the national capital.The top court eventually proceeded to direct AAP to vacate the land.