AAP grabs Delhi High Court’s land in the national capital, Supreme Court shocked

NEW DELHI: Expressing its shock and displeasure at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party encroaching on a land originally allotted to the Delhi High Court in the national capital, the Supreme Court said today, "No one can take law into their own hands.”

A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud questioned, “How can a political party sit tight on that (the land allotted to Delhi High Court)?" and said that “unencumbered possession” must be given to the High Court of the plot immediately.

He added, “What will the High Court use it for? Only for the public and citizens. Why was the land allotted to the High Court then?"

Amicus curiae K Parameshwar informed the apex court that Delhi High Court officials who had gone to take possession of the land were stopped by a political party’s officials (AAP) as their office now sits on it.

The Court took note of the issue while dealing with a case concerning judicial infrastructure across the country.

The matter was being heard by a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

However, the Law Secretary to the Government of Delhi, Bharat Parashar apprised the Court that the said land has infact been with the AAP since 2016.

CJI DY Chandrachud however stated that the land must be returned to the Delhi High Court, as intended originally, and directed the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government, the Secretary to the Delhi Public Works Department and the Finance Secretary to the Delhi government to convene a meeting with the Registrar General of Delhi High Court to ensure execution of the direction immediately.

The meeting is to be held before the next date of hearing in the matter before the top court.