NEW DELHI: In another
extension
to the
deadline
, the
Supreme Court
has asked
Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) to
vacate
its
Delhi office premises
at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg by August 10.
The Supreme Court in March this year had extended the deadline for the AAP to vacate its offices at
Rouse Avenue
until June 15.
The decision was prompted by the court's acknowledgement that the land was originally allotted for the expansion of
judicial infrastructure
for the Delhi high court.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, had also directed the AAP to approach the Land And Development Office (L&DO) for the allotment of
alternative land
for its offices. The court said that the AAP did not possess any lawful right to continue occupying the designated land.
In the March order, the top court had said, "In view of impending general elections it gives time to AAP till June 15 to vacate its political office located on a plot that was allotted to the Delhi High Court for the purpose of expanding the district judiciary."
"We would request the L&DO to process the application and communicate its decision within a period of four weeks," the bench said, highlighting the need for an expeditious resolution.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the AAP, argued that the party holds a national status but has been allocated less favourable premises compared to other national parties. "They are telling us as a national party we get nothing. I'm given Badarpur, while everyone else is in better places," Singhvi said.
The court took cognisance of the situation and extended the deadline while reiterating the AAP's obligation to comply with the
land allocation
for judicial purposes.
The Supreme Court had previously directed the Delhi government and the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court to collaborate in addressing the issue of encroachment by the AAP on the land designated for the High Court at Rouse Avenue.
(With inputs from Amit Anand Choudhary)
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