New Delhi, The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) plea seeking allotment of space for its offices by the Center since it is recognized as a national party. .
Admitting that the current party office at Rouse Avenue would have to be vacated by June 15, AAP's senior counsel argued that a unit on Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU Marg) should be allotted temporarily.
The court said it may pass an order on June 5 on the issue of temporary allotment of space.
Justice Subramaniam Prasad said, "I will try to pronounce it during the holidays. Probably on June 5.,
AAP had filed two separate petitions last year seeking a piece of land to build its offices in the national capital, given its status as a recognized national party or on a license basis for the time being. There was a demand for allotment of a university accommodation. Creature.
While reserving the verdict on allotment of temporary accommodation, the court listed the plea regarding allotment of land to AAP for hearing on July 10.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra said a national party is entitled to a temporary office until it is given land to construct a permanent office and in the present case an AAP government minister is willing to give up his possession. I am a supporter of the Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Marg unit party.Stating that a fair and level playing field should be established, the senior counsel said there would be no prejudice to the Center if this plot on DDU land is given to AAP in view of the present circumstances.
Mehra said, "I am not saying that I have a permanent entitlement to it. I am only asking for two to three months' time till they allot me a suitable land. My ministers will be without government accommodation." "
The central government counsel said the allocation is to be from the genera pool and there is no specific list for political parties.He said AAP was offered land for its offices in 2014 but it was not accepted and currently, it is not possible to allot a housing unit from the pool.
As far as the DDU route unit is concerned, he stressed that it has to be returned to the government.
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 its petition, the Arvind 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 similar allotment is made. yes.This has also been made in favor of the petitioner as per his eligibility as per the policy of the Centre.
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 for allotment on DD Marg or in other central areas of Delhi.
"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, it violates the ethos of the democratic parliamentary system, leaving the party without proper office premises," the plea said. May be prevented from functioning properly.,
Therefore, it has sought directions to 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.
Admitting that the current party office at Rouse Avenue would have to be vacated by June 15, AAP's senior counsel argued that a unit on Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU Marg) should be allotted temporarily.
The court said it may pass an order on June 5 on the issue of temporary allotment of space.
Justice Subramaniam Prasad said, "I will try to pronounce it during the holidays. Probably on June 5.,
AAP had filed two separate petitions last year seeking a piece of land to build its offices in the national capital, given its status as a recognized national party or on a license basis for the time being. There was a demand for allotment of a university accommodation. Creature.
While reserving the verdict on allotment of temporary accommodation, the court listed the plea regarding allotment of land to AAP for hearing on July 10.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra said a national party is entitled to a temporary office until it is given land to construct a permanent office and in the present case an AAP government minister is willing to give up his possession. I am a supporter of the Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Marg unit party.Stating that a fair and level playing field should be established, the senior counsel said there would be no prejudice to the Center if this plot on DDU land is given to AAP in view of the present circumstances.
Mehra said, "I am not saying that I have a permanent entitlement to it. I am only asking for two to three months' time till they allot me a suitable land. My ministers will be without government accommodation." "
The central government counsel said the allocation is to be from the genera pool and there is no specific list for political parties.He said AAP was offered land for its offices in 2014 but it was not accepted and currently, it is not possible to allot a housing unit from the pool.
As far as the DDU route unit is concerned, he stressed that it has to be returned to the government.
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 its petition, the Arvind 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 similar allotment is made. yes.This has also been made in favor of the petitioner as per his eligibility as per the policy of the Centre.
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 for allotment on DD Marg or in other central areas of Delhi.
"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, it violates the ethos of the democratic parliamentary system, leaving the party without proper office premises," the plea said. May be prevented from functioning properly.,
Therefore, it has sought directions to 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.
