Delhi High Court Seeks Centre's Response On Aam Aadmi Party's Plea For Allotment Of Land For Office Space In 'Centrally Located Areas'

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice on a plea moved by Aam Aadmi Party seeking direction on the Union Government to allot suitable land to it being a recognized political party, preferably in centrally located areas free from encroachments in the national capital, for construction of its offices for National and Delhi State Units.

Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and sought its response within six weeks.

Aam Aadmi Party has placed reliance on a Memorandum issued by the Centre in 2006 prescribing allotment of land up to 500 square meters to all national political parties having up to 15 Members of Parliament (MPs) in both Houses.

The Memorandum also provides for an additional allocation of land up to 500 square meters for Delhi State units where the National Party has representation in the Delhi State legislature.

The plea seeks a direction on the Union Government to ensure that the land so allotted to it is “preferably in centrally located areas” in the national capital and “free from encumbrances and encroachments” so that the construction for office space may be commenced immediately.

Aam Aadmi Party has challenged two letters vide which its request for allotment of suitable land for construction of its offices was rejected by the Centre.

As per Aam Aadmi Party, the said rejection is done on vague and frivolous grounds.

“…the refusal of the respondent to allot land to the Petitioner for construction of its National and State Unit offices at New Delhi despite clear entitlement to the same and despite the passage of almost 6 (six) months since its recognition as a National Party, is not only arbitrary but also discriminatory,” the plea states.

It adds that such a refusal is all the more egregious as Aam Aadmi Party is a party in Opposition and hence, it is incumbent on the Centre to enable full exercise of democratic freedoms by those in Opposition, “instead of misusing their power to curtail such rights.”

“The refusal to allot land has placed the Party at great disadvantage in comparison to other National Parties and thus, violates the very ethos of a democratic parliamentary system, preventing the Party from functioning properly in the absence of proper office premises,” the plea reads.

The matter will now be heard on April 23, 2024.

Title: AAM AADMI PARTY v. UNION OF INDIA & OTHERS