SC steps in over relocation of 135-year-old Delhi library housing 8.5 lakh books

A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the proposed relocation of Delhi's 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library, which holds more than 8.5 lakh books.The court's intervention comes amid reports that the library, currently located in Shastri Bhawan, has not been allotted space in the new Central Vista Plan.

The building is proposed to be demolished as part of the Central Vista redevelopment.A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday, October 5, reported LiveLaw.

Court steps in over library's future

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 where the library and its vast collection of books would be housed if Shastri Bhawan is demolished.

Reports said the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Central Public Works Department were still looking for suitable space for the library.The proposed relocation has also raised concerns about ensuring proper facilities for the preservation of its extensive collection.

Government says space has been provided

The Union ministry of housing and urban affairs, however, has rejected reports that the library has been left without space under the redevelopment plans.

"Contrary to a few reports, it is clarified that space for the Central Secretariat Library has been provided for in the Kartavya Path redevelopment plan. The necessary process for construction of the library is underway," the ministry wrote in a post on X.The ministry's statement indicates that a new location for the library has been included in the Kartavya Path redevelopment plan, although the Supreme Court is now set to examine the issue.