Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance Of 135-Year-Old Library's Relocation After It Was Allocated Only Two Rooms In Central Vista Plan
The Court has directed the Union Government to file a detailed affidavit along with layout plans for its relocation.
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of reports that a historic 135-year-old library housing over 8.5 lakh books was allotted only two rooms under the Central Vista redevelopment plan.
The Court has directed the Union government to file an affidavit providing complete details of the area allotted for the library, accompanied by actual layout plans.
The Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva ordered, "An affidavit giving full details of the area which would be allotted for housing this library along with actual layout plans...It shall also be indicated as to whether this library would be adequate in space to house not only the books which are presently uh stored in Shastri Bhawan, but also the books which are stated to be lying in R.K. Puram in cartons. We request Ms. Haripriya Padmanabhan, learned Senior Counsel, to assist the court in this matter. Registry may furnish a full set of papers to Ms. Haripriya Padmanabhan well before the next date."
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appeared for the Centre
Bhati clarified that space for the library, presently spread across four floors in Shastri Bhawan alongside boxed volumes stored in R.K. Puram, has been incorporated into the project.
This comes in the wake of recent media reports highlighting that the library, currently spread over four floors in Shastri Bhawan since 1969, was facing uncertainty as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had allotted only two rooms in the Kartavya Bhawan-2 complex.
The affidavit must specify whether the allocated space will be sufficient to accommodate both the books currently stored across Shastri Bhawan and those kept in cartons at R.K. Puram.
Additionally, the bench requested Senior Advocate Ms. Haripriya Padmanabhan to assist as amicus curiae in the matter, instructing the registry to supply her with a full set of case papers well in advance of the next hearing date.
The Union Housing Ministry clarified that space for the library had been provided in the Central Vista redevelopment plan.
Cause Title: In Re: 135-Year-Old Library, 8.5 Lakh Books And No Room In The New Central Vista Plan [SMW(C) No. 21/2026]