{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Supreme Court Steps In Over Central Secretariat Library Relocation Under Central Vista",
  "summary": "The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the proposed shifting of the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library, demanding an affidavit from the Centre on space allocation.",
  "content": "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.\n\nCourt Directs Centre to File Detailed Affidavit\nA 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.\n\nConcerns Raised Over Limited Rooms in Kartavya Bhawan\nDuring 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.\n\nJustice 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.\n\nScope of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project\nThe 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.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis judicial intervention ensures the physical preservation of national archival wealth and secures continued access for researchers and the public.\n\n• Across India: Scholars, historians, and policy researchers nationwide will benefit from the proper preservation of over 8.5 lakh rare books and historical records. Protecting these documents prevents irreplaceable government records and literary heritage from deterioration.\n• In Delhi: Students and library visitors in the capital can expect proper institutional space rather than cramped storage for the collection. It will also ensure that approximately 2 lakh books currently lying in cardboard boxes in RK Puram are properly organized and made accessible.\n• Administrative impact: Construction planners in central ministries must allocate adequate physical space for historical archives rather than merely planning paperless offices. The Centre will now have to present a binding commitment regarding exact square footage in its court affidavit.\n\nWhy this happened\nThe Supreme Court initiated proceedings following concerns that the Central Vista project did not allocate sufficient physical space for the 135-year-old library.\n\n• Immediate trigger: Reports indicated that the vast Central Secretariat Library was being allotted merely two rooms in Kartavya Bhawan, raising urgent alarms regarding capacity.\n• Pre-existing storage issues: In addition to the main collection at Shastri Bhawan, around 2 lakh books are already languishing packed in cardboard cartons in RK Puram without proper display.\n• Judicial concern: The bench observed that while going paperless is a valid modern objective, it cannot justify neglecting physical paper records and books dating back to 1891.\n• Next steps: The bench will review a formal affidavit from the Central Vista authorities and inputs from the appointed amicus curiae to ensure adequate space allocation.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Why has the Supreme Court taken suo motu cognizance in the Central Vista matter?\nThe Supreme Court intervened over concerns regarding the relocation and potentially insufficient space allotted to the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library.\n\n2. When was the Central Secretariat Library established and what is its collection size?\nThe historical library dates back to 1891 and houses a collection of more than 8.5 lakh books and documents.\n\n3. What specific query did the court raise regarding RK Puram?\nThe court asked whether the new space would accommodate approximately 2 lakh books currently stored in cardboard cartons in RK Puram.\n\n4. Which judges are presiding over this case?\nA bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjiv Sachdeva is hearing the matter.\n\n5. Who has been appointed as amicus curiae in this case?\nSenior advocate Haripriya Padmanabhan has been appointed as amicus curiae by the court.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/national/central-secretariat-library-ke-punarvasa-para-supreme-court-sakhta-kendra-se-manga-vistrita-byora-43148",
  "category": "India",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-05",
  "tags": [
    "Supreme Court",
    "Central Vista",
    "Central Secretariat Library",
    "Shastri Bhawan",
    "Kartavya Bhawan",
    "Aishwarya Bhati"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}