The Delhi High Court has recently given the Central Government ten days to respond to a request from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for temporary land allotment to establish office space. The Central Government had initially asked for four weeks to make a decision, but Justice Sanjeev Narula only granted them ten days, with the next hearing scheduled for July 25.
During the proceedings, Advocate Kirtimaan Singh, representing the Central Government, emphasised the need for more time, as the six-week period granted in June was nearing its end. On the other hand, Senior Advocate Rahul Mhera, representing AAP, opposed this request, arguing that it was unnecessary to extend the timeline further.
In June, the High Court had already decided on AAP's earlier petition, allowing them to use a housing unit as a temporary party office until a permanent space was allocated. Justice Subramonium Prasad noted that the ongoing dispute over land allocation should not prevent AAP from using a housing unit for office purposes.
Justice Prasad pointed out that the AAP is entitled to the housing unit based on existing rules governing the allotment of government accommodations to national and state-level political parties. He stated that despite the pressure on available housing for allotment, it should not be the sole reason for denying AAP's request.
The court highlighted that there was no evidence suggesting that the Central Government had rejected AAP’s request. It directed the government to carefully consider AAP's appeal and provide a detailed explanation for any decisions made regarding the allocation of housing units.
The High Court referenced guidelines that allow recognized national political parties to secure a housing unit for office use for a period of three years, during which they are expected to find land and construct a permanent office. The court also acknowledged that AAP had previously declined offers of land in Saket in 2014.
While the Central Government argued that AAP should have constructed their office by now had they accepted the land offered years ago, the court maintained that this could not justify denying AAP temporary accommodation.
Additionally, the court clarified that AAP, as a political party, is not the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and therefore cannot claim certain plots that were allocated to the GNCTD.
As the case unfolds, the Delhi High Court aims to ensure that the rights of political parties to secure necessary resources for their functioning are respected while balancing the needs and limitations of government resources.
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