Supreme Court extends time for AAP to vacate office premises by Aug 10

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday granted additional time till August 10, 2024 to Aam Aadmi Party to vacate its office premises here as a last opportunity since the space has been allotted to the Delhi High Court for expansion of Rouse Avenue district court.

The AAP was earlier directed by the top court to vacate the premises by June 15, 2024. 

Taking up an application by the AAP in Malik Mazhar Sultan case related to infrastructure of district judiciary, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, however, rejected a contention by the applicant party that the vacation should be subject to allotment of an alternative office space to it.

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The applicant sought a modification of the previous order of March 4, 2024 by the apex court to vacate its office at Rouse Avenue here to be utilised for expansion of Delhi court.

Advocate K Parameshwar, appearing for the Delhi High Court, which exercised administrative control over the Delhi courts, said that the space has been allotted to it since 2020.

"We have not got possession of the space for the last four year. If the court is extending the time, it should be the last opportunity, we don't want to suffer due to tussle between the applicant party and the Union government," he said.

He pointed out on March 4, 2024, this court has told the AAP to vacate the premises in question till June 15, 2024.

"Since the premises in question has already been allotted to Delhi High Court, the expansion of the Delhi's Rouse Avenue is stultified due to it. 
This is an application for modification seeking extension of time. Considering the facts the circumstances of the matter and as a last opportunity, we extend the time to vacate the premises till August 10, 2024 subject to undertaking before the registry," the bench said.

The Delhi High Court had last week rejected a plea by Aam Aadmi Party to order the Union government to allow the national party to use a housing unit, presently in occupation of a Delhi Minister, as its office on a temporary basis.

Justice Subramonium Prasad, however, had directed the Union government to consider the request of the party for the office space within six weeks, saying the fact that the petitioner is a national political party cannot be overlooked.

The court had also asked the Centre to take a decision by passing a detailed order as to why even one housing unit from the general pool cannot be allotted to it when all other political parties have got similar accommodation for the purpose.