• Source:PTI
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The Delhi government and the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court were directed by the Supreme Court to hold a meeting to remove a political party's encroachment on the land allocated to the High Court at Rouse Avenue in the national capital. A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud asked the Delhi chief secretary, the secretary of the Delhi Public Works Department and the finance secretary to the city government to convene a meeting on the issue.

The Aam Aadmi Party issued a statement denying the allegations that the party’s political headquarters situated at Rouse Avenue in Delhi is constructed on encroached land and accused the Centre of trying to mislead the court. "It is appalling that the Central Government has made incorrect submissions to mislead the Hon’ble Supreme Court. We will submit documents before the Hon’ble Court which shall clearly show that the land has been alloted to the Aam Aadmi Party by the Government of Delhi. Be it noted, that the same land, since 1992 has been alloted to IAS officers and three ministers. There has been no encroachment whatsoever," said AAP, adding the party will present all valid documents before the Supreme Court in its reply.

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The direction from the top court followed after advocate K Parameshwar, appointed as amicus curiae to assist the apex court in the matter, said a political party had set up its office on the land parcel.

"How can a political party sit tight on that? Unencumbered possession must be given to the High Court," the bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said as quoted by news agency PTI.

The Delhi government was previously ordered by the top court to submit an affidavit detailing the steps taken, including the floating of tenders, to build judicial infrastructure in the capital.

The court criticised the city government for its lackadaisical approach towards providing funds to the Delhi High Court and the district judiciary for infrastructure development.

Last year, on December 11, the bench harshly criticised the Delhi government for failing to provide funding for judicial infrastructure, asking, "What is happening? What is your government doing? You do not want to give any funds to the Delhi High Court? We need an approval by Thursday. It is a model high court and look at the condition. Judges are undergoing training and there are no courtrooms."