AAP seeks fair play ahead of Lok Sabha polls, tells Supreme Court its office in capital not an ‘encroachment’

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has told the Supreme Court that its lawful occupation of a premises in Rouse Avenue is being wrongly labelled as an “encroachment” of land allotted for the Delhi High Court. It said an immediate vacation would mean that the party would be left with none of the two office spaces it is entitled to. The party said that its earlier requests for alternative allotments for its State Unit office were denied in June 2017.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has told the Supreme Court that its lawful occupation of a premises in Rouse Avenue is being wrongly labelled as an “encroachment” of land allotted for the Delhi High Court.

The ruling party in Delhi and Punjab had come under the spotlight after the Supreme Court recorded in an order on February 13 that the party was illegally occupying the land earmarked for the High Court six years ago to construct court rooms.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud had given the Delhi government time till February 19 (Monday) to fix a specific deadline to hand over the property to the Delhi High Court.

The party has now sought the permission of the court to intervene in the case and clear the air on the controversy.

“Far from being an instance of ‘encroachment’, the premises were officially allotted to the applicant [AAP] by the government of NCT of Delhi on December 31, 2015 for its State Unit office,” the intervention application said.

However, the party said it understands the need for judicial infrastructure for the welfare of Delhi’s citizens and has no cavil about relocating its State unit office to an appropriate space.

However, the application said an immediate vacation would mean that the party would be left with none of the two office spaces it is entitled to.