The Supreme Court has stepped in over the proposed relocation of Delhi's 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library, initiating suo motu proceedings to examine the space allocated for the historic institution under the Central Vista redevelopment plan. Housing a vast repository of over 8.5 lakh books and archival volumes, the library faces space constraints amid reports that the newly designed administrative complex may not provide adequate room for its vast collection.
Court Directs Centre to File Detailed Affidavit
A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjiv Sachdeva took up the matter, directing the Union government to place comprehensive details on record through a formal affidavit. The court observed that the government must specify the exact measurements of the area earmarked for the library. Crucially, the judges asked whether the proposed premises would accommodate only the volumes currently housed at Shastri Bhawan, or if there would also be sufficient space for approximately 2 lakh books currently stored in cardboard cartons in RK Puram.
Concerns Raised Over Limited Rooms in Kartavya Bhawan
During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati submitted that specific space has indeed been earmarked for the library within the Central Vista plan. She noted that the director of the Central Vista project was present in the courtroom and prepared to explain the arrangements directly. However, the bench made it clear that a formal sworn affidavit was mandatory.
Justice Kumar made pointed observations during the hearing, stating, “If we go by news reports, this library dates back to 1891. Paperless is good, but it does not mean you do not take care of valuable papers. You are giving only two rooms in Kartavya Bhawan, is that all?” Justice Kumar further asked, “Are you leaving out the 2 lakh books in RK Puram?” To assist the bench in evaluating the conservation and logistical concerns, senior advocate Haripriya Padmanabhan was appointed as amicus curiae.
Scope of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project
The Central Vista project encompasses a comprehensive revamp of the 3-kilometer administrative corridor stretching between Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate in New Delhi. The transformation has already seen the creation of a modern, larger Parliament building equipped with higher seating capacities for both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The historical Rajpath and its surrounding public spaces have been redeveloped as Kartavya Path into an updated, aesthetically upgraded avenue. A central objective of the project is reorganizing the Central Secretariat to bring disparate ministry offices together in unified complexes, alongside new residential and administrative infrastructure for the Prime Minister and the Vice President. The top court is now ensuring that valuable archival wealth dating back to 1891 is not marginalized during this architectural overhaul.
