Supreme Court Extends Deadline for AAP to Vacate Delhi Office Premises

The Supreme Court on Monday extended by nearly two months the June 15 deadline given to the Aam Aadmi Party to vacate its office at Rouse Avenue in the national capital here.

The top court had on March 4 directed the party to vacate its office by June 15 after noting that the plot was allotted to the Delhi High Court for expanding judicial infrastructure.

A vacation bench comprising justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took note of the submissions of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi , appearing for the AAP and others, and extended the deadline till August 10, saying it was the last opportunity and that the party will have to hand over the vacant possession of the building at 206, Rouse Avenue here by then.

The premises were allotted in 2020 to the Delhi High Court for creating infrastructure for the district judiciary in the national capital.

At the outset, Singhvi urged the bench that the deadline be extended.

Lawyer K Parmeshwar , appointed as amicus curiae to assist the top court in the matter, said there was a shortage of 90 courtrooms for judicial officers.

"We (the high court) are in dire conditions and now we may have to rent premises to accommodate the newly-recruited judicial officers, who are undergoing training presently," he said.

Parmeshwar said the AAP wanted some place in central Delhi and they are being offered land at some other place in the city.

"The premises in question had to be vacated by June 15, 2024. The premises are already allotted to the Delhi High Court in 2020. The expansion of judicial infrastructure is stultified and the cost of expansion is also a factor. This application is for extension of time till August 10, 2024.

"Considering facts and circumstances and as the last opportunity, we extend the time till August 10, 2024, on an undertaking to be given by the applicant (AAP) within a week before the registry of this court that they shall hand over vacant and peaceful possession by August 10, 2024," the bench ordered.