India
Supreme Court Takes Up Library Relocation Case
Supreme Court intervenes in relocation of 135-year-old Delhi library. Government claims space is allocated. Court to hear case on October 5.
At a glance
Why it matters
The relocation of a historic library raises concerns about the preservation of its vast collection and the adequacy of proposed facilities.
Key facts
- Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the library's relocation.
- Library houses over 8.5 lakh books and is 135 years old.
- Government claims space has been allocated in the Kartavya Path redevelopment plan.
What happens next
The Supreme Court will hear the case on October 5 to determine the library's future.
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the proposed relocation of Delhi's 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library, which houses over 8.5 lakh books. The court's intervention follows reports that the library, located in Shastri Bhawan, has not been allocated space in the new Central Vista redevelopment plan. A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva is set to hear the matter on October 5.
The suo motu case, titled 'In Re: 135-Yr-Old Library 8.5 Lakh Books– And No Room In The New Central Vista Plan', was registered on October 3. The concerns centre on the library's future if Shastri Bhawan is demolished. Reports indicate that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Central Public Works Department are still seeking a suitable location for the library.
The Union ministry of housing and urban affairs has rejected reports that the library has been left without space under the redevelopment plans. In a post on X, the ministry clarified that space for the Central Secretariat Library has been provided for in the Kartavya Path redevelopment plan, and the necessary process for construction is underway.