In a significant development, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday set aside an order of the lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal cancelling the allotment of a bungalow to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), saying no reason was given for the action. The AAP runs its central office from the bungalow in question at Rowse Avenue in Central Delhi.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru remanded the matter back to the l-G to pass a reasoned order within eight weeks after hearing the AAP’s point of view.
The court said the April 12 order cancelling the allotment did not say which law or rule has been violated. It told the Central Government that if there is a policy for allotting accommodation to political parties, it has to be applied uniformly. The court also kept in abeyance two consequential orders passed by the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Delhi Government on June 13 rejecting the party’s request for alternative accommodation and directing it to pay dues of over Rs 27 lakh towards the market rent of the property up till May 31.
According to the AAP, represented by senior advocate Arun Kathpalia, the party was allotted bungalow number 206 at the Rowse Avenue on December 31, 2015.
Thereafter, on April 12 this year, the AAP received a communication informing it that the l-G has cancelled the allotment of the bungalow on the ground that it was contrary to law and the rules, the petition filed through advocate Aaditya Vijaykumar said.
The AAP, in its plea, also claimed that it was being singled out for such action while the other parties are enjoying accommodation allotted to them in the heart of the national Capital.
The party had contended that as per the Central Government’s policy, all registered political parties are entitled for an accommodation.
During the arguments, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain and the Central Government standing counsel said that an accommodation was offered to the party in Saket in South Delhi, but the AAP had refused to accept it.