New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday listed for hearing on May 2 the pleas of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seeking permission from the Center to allot space for its offices due to its recognition as a national party. has sought.
Noting that the suggestion to allot a unit on Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Marg, which is held by a minister in the AAP government, was not accepted by the authorities, Justice Subramaniam Prasad said the decision would be taken in view of the matter. Should be taken. The current Lok Sabha elections and the assembly elections next year.
The AAP, which has to vacate its current party office at Rouse Avenue by June 15, had moved the court last year, seeking allotment of a housing unit or a piece of land in the national capital on the basis of a license for construction of the office. Had demanded. Its status as a recognized national party.The court had on Tuesday asked the Central government counsel to see the instructions after senior counsel for the petitioner had said that a minister was ready to give up a residence in his possession on DDU Marg if the land was temporarily allotted to the Aam Aadmi Party. This is done until the land is found. Party to build its offices.
The central government's counsel told the court on Wednesday that the proposal for permanent allotment of land in Saket area was given to the petitioner last year. He also said that the plot in question on the DDU route would have to be returned to the government first as it was initially earmarked. To expand our infrastructure.
Justice Prasad said that as of now, this plot has not been earmarked for any purpose and the offer of the Saket plot was objected to by the petitioner on the ground that it was not at par with the allotment in favor of other national parties.The court questioned whether there was any waiting list of the national political party in respect of allocation of seats from the respective pool and emphasized that the government is expected to comply with Article 14 (equality before law).
The court also asked whether there were any criteria for such allocation.
The court said, "There are elections this year. There will be elections next year too. An arrangement was suggested.This has not been accepted. The case has to be heard and decided. Monday at 10.30 am.""The question is that during this election, at least till January in Delhi, national political parties are coming to this court and saying that this plot is in the possession of a minister...Please Allow us (to continue party activity there). " the court added.Senior lawyers appearing for the petitioner had earlier said that AAP should be allotted an alternative accommodation as its existing office has to be vacated by June 15 and in the meantime construction of the new building cannot be completed on any allotted land. .
In March, the Supreme Court had given AAP time till June 15 to vacate the Rouse Avenue office, noting that the land was allotted to the Delhi High Court for expansion of judicial infrastructure. In his petition, Arvind The Kejriwal-led party has said that since all other national parties at central locations in New Delhi have been allotted land by the authorities for construction of office complexes, it is their responsibility to ensure that there is equal allocation. This was also done in favor of the petitioner as per his rights.
The petition sought quashing of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry's letters dated June 26 and September 15 last year, rejecting AAP's request to allot land to the party for the construction of national and state university offices. was given.The request was rejected on the grounds that there was no vacant land available on DD Marg or in other centrally located area of Delhi for allotment. AAP has claimed that in view of the policies issued by the Union Ministry, it is A total area of 1,000 square meters is entitled for the construction of offices for.
It said that despite almost six months having passed since it got clear rights and recognition as a national party, it has been denied land, which is not only "arbitrary but also discriminatory".
"Such denial is all the more serious because the petitioner is a party I am opposing and, therefore, it is incumbent upon the respondents to sit in opposition, rather than abusing their power to curtail such rights. Enable people to fully exercise democratic freedoms. “The refusal to allot land has put the party at a great disadvantage compared to other national parties and thus violates the ethos of the democratic parliamentary system,” the petition said. Due to which the party is prevented from functioning properly in the absence of proper office premises.,
Therefore, it has sought to direct the Union Ministry to take necessary steps as per law to allot suitable land in New Delhi so that the party can construct the office for its national and Delhi state units at the earliest. It is also requested to direct to ensure that the land allotted is in the area located in the center of Delhi and is free from encroachments and encroachments, so that the construction of its offices can be started immediately.
Noting that the suggestion to allot a unit on Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Marg, which is held by a minister in the AAP government, was not accepted by the authorities, Justice Subramaniam Prasad said the decision would be taken in view of the matter. Should be taken. The current Lok Sabha elections and the assembly elections next year.
The AAP, which has to vacate its current party office at Rouse Avenue by June 15, had moved the court last year, seeking allotment of a housing unit or a piece of land in the national capital on the basis of a license for construction of the office. Had demanded. Its status as a recognized national party.The court had on Tuesday asked the Central government counsel to see the instructions after senior counsel for the petitioner had said that a minister was ready to give up a residence in his possession on DDU Marg if the land was temporarily allotted to the Aam Aadmi Party. This is done until the land is found. Party to build its offices.
The central government's counsel told the court on Wednesday that the proposal for permanent allotment of land in Saket area was given to the petitioner last year. He also said that the plot in question on the DDU route would have to be returned to the government first as it was initially earmarked. To expand our infrastructure.
Justice Prasad said that as of now, this plot has not been earmarked for any purpose and the offer of the Saket plot was objected to by the petitioner on the ground that it was not at par with the allotment in favor of other national parties.The court questioned whether there was any waiting list of the national political party in respect of allocation of seats from the respective pool and emphasized that the government is expected to comply with Article 14 (equality before law).
The court also asked whether there were any criteria for such allocation.
The court said, "There are elections this year. There will be elections next year too. An arrangement was suggested.This has not been accepted. The case has to be heard and decided. Monday at 10.30 am.""The question is that during this election, at least till January in Delhi, national political parties are coming to this court and saying that this plot is in the possession of a minister...Please Allow us (to continue party activity there). " the court added.Senior lawyers appearing for the petitioner had earlier said that AAP should be allotted an alternative accommodation as its existing office has to be vacated by June 15 and in the meantime construction of the new building cannot be completed on any allotted land. .
In March, the Supreme Court had given AAP time till June 15 to vacate the Rouse Avenue office, noting that the land was allotted to the Delhi High Court for expansion of judicial infrastructure. In his petition, Arvind The Kejriwal-led party has said that since all other national parties at central locations in New Delhi have been allotted land by the authorities for construction of office complexes, it is their responsibility to ensure that there is equal allocation. This was also done in favor of the petitioner as per his rights.
The petition sought quashing of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry's letters dated June 26 and September 15 last year, rejecting AAP's request to allot land to the party for the construction of national and state university offices. was given.The request was rejected on the grounds that there was no vacant land available on DD Marg or in other centrally located area of Delhi for allotment. AAP has claimed that in view of the policies issued by the Union Ministry, it is A total area of 1,000 square meters is entitled for the construction of offices for.
It said that despite almost six months having passed since it got clear rights and recognition as a national party, it has been denied land, which is not only "arbitrary but also discriminatory".
"Such denial is all the more serious because the petitioner is a party I am opposing and, therefore, it is incumbent upon the respondents to sit in opposition, rather than abusing their power to curtail such rights. Enable people to fully exercise democratic freedoms. “The refusal to allot land has put the party at a great disadvantage compared to other national parties and thus violates the ethos of the democratic parliamentary system,” the petition said. Due to which the party is prevented from functioning properly in the absence of proper office premises.,
Therefore, it has sought to direct the Union Ministry to take necessary steps as per law to allot suitable land in New Delhi so that the party can construct the office for its national and Delhi state units at the earliest. It is also requested to direct to ensure that the land allotted is in the area located in the center of Delhi and is free from encroachments and encroachments, so that the construction of its offices can be started immediately.
