-AAP cites guidelines entitling recognised party chiefs to official accommodation in the capital

New Delhi, August 14 (HS): The Delhi High Court on Thursday scheduled August 25 for hearing a petition seeking the allotment of government accommodation in Delhi to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his capacity as the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The petition, filed by AAP, came up before a bench of Justice Sachin Datta, which issued the next date for proceedings after briefly hearing the matter.

Appearing for the party, senior advocate Rahul Mehra argued that under existing government guidelines on housing allocation to political parties, the chief of any recognised political party — if not already allotted accommodation under another provision — is entitled to a government residence in Delhi.

The plea contends that AAP is a recognised political party and that Kejriwal meets all stipulated criteria for such allotment. It seeks a directive for the provision of an official residence for him in Central Delhi.

According to the petition, Kejriwal vacated the government bungalow allotted to him as Delhi Chief Minister on October 4, 2024, following his resignation. Thereafter, on September 20, 2024, AAP formally requested the administration to allot him a government house in Delhi, reiterating the request in subsequent communications — none of which, it claims, elicited a response.

The party has also pointed out that the High Court had earlier directed the allotment of office space to AAP, submitting that the same principle of extending facilities to recognised political parties should be applied in this case as well.

The matter will now be taken up for detailed hearing on August 25.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar