In a shocking order, Supreme Court asks Arvind Kejriwal's AAP to vacate headquarters, in land encroachment case
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to vacate their headquarters which occupies a plot of land meant for the High Court.
The saving grace for the AAP is that it has time till June 15 to vacate the property.
Underscoring that it is a case of encroachment, the Supreme Court gave the party a long deadline given the coming Lok Sabha elections.
The party was allowed to apply to the Centre's Land and Development Office for alternate land.
"We would request the L&DO to process the application and communicate its decision within a period of four weeks," the bench said comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
The AAP, according to the bench, has no lawful right to continue on the land.
In February, the court observed that AAP was encroaching on the land which was allotted to the Delhi High Court for an expansion project meant to build additional court rooms for the Rouse Avenue court.
The top court took note of the matter while dealing with a case related to judicial infrastructure across the country.
Following a court order, a meeting was held on Feb 15, during which the Delhi government had assured that the plot would be vacated in two months, provided an alternative plot was given. But the matter did not move forward.
The delay angered the judges on Monday who questioned the lapse.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said no one can take the law into their own hands.
"How can any political party sit on it? All encroachments will be removed... The High Court should be given possession of the land, which can be used for the public and citizens," said Justice Chandrachud.
Top Headlines
-
News
Supreme Court to deliver verdict on pleas seeking complete count of VVPAT slips
April 24, 2024
-
News
WMO report shows Asia hit hardest by climate change and extreme weather
April 24, 2024
-
News
Delhi liquor policy case: Arvind Kejriwal administered insulin as blood sugar level increased
April 23, 2024
-
News
Stock market opens in green with Nifty above 22,400, Sensex near 73,900
April 23, 2024
-
News
Vattikuti Foundation announces KS International Innovation Awards for Robotic Surgery
April 22, 2024
-
News
Indian Navy conducts mega exercise on East Coast
April 21, 2024
-
News
Iran, Israel seem to pull back from engaging in border conflict after US approves military aid to Jerusalem
April 21, 2024
-
News
'Congress turned tech city into tanker city': PM Modi in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah hits back
April 21, 2024
-
News
Know how the Indian Institute of Astrophysics brought the sunlight on Ram Lalla's forehead in Ayodhya
April 18, 2024
-
News
Senior Delhi journalist Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury awarded Italian govt honour
April 15, 2024