The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to make a decision regarding the allotment of office space to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) within six weeks. The court emphasized that AAP is entitled to space for its party office in Delhi, similar to other political parties.
Justice Subramonium Prasad asserted that the pressure or non-availability of a house in the general pool cannot be grounds for rejecting AAP’s request. The court stated, “They are entitled to a house from the general pool. Mere pressure or non-availability is no reason to reject because pressure is always there and houses have always been allotted to political parties.”
AAP, recognized as a national party, is seeking space for its office from the Centre. The party’s counsel argued for the temporary allotment of a unit on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, currently held by one of its city ministers, as AAP needs to vacate its current office in Rouse Avenue by June 15.
However, Justice Prasad clarified that AAP cannot claim entitlement to the DDU Marg property. He advised that if the Centre rejects AAP’s representation, the party can take appropriate steps.
Last year, AAP had approached the court seeking either land in the national capital for constructing its office or allotment of a housing unit on a license basis temporarily. The petition is pending in the high court.
In March, the Supreme Court granted AAP time until June 15 to vacate its Rouse Avenue office, which was allotted for expanding judicial infrastructure by the Delhi High Court.
Sources By Agencies