Delhi HC Asks Centre to Respond to AAP’s Plea Against Rent Demand for Former Party Office
High Court asked the Centre to reply within two weeks and listed the matter for hearing on July 22;
The Delhi High Court on Monday, 07 July, asked the Central Government to reply to a petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) contesting the rental dues for its formerly allotted party office in Vithalbhai Patel House.
A bench led by Justice Sachin Datta issued notice to the Centre, asking it to respond to AAP’s petition within two weeks.
During the hearing today, AAP’s counsel asked the High Court to immediately stay the notice dated June 20 demanding rent.
However, counsel appearing on behalf of the Centre said there was no urgency and told the Court that no action would be taken until the next hearing. The counsel also added that they are following the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act.
The matter will be heard next on July 22.
On 26 May, the High Court issued notice to the Union in the AAP’s main petition challenging an ex-parte order of the Directorate of Estates revoking their state party office allotment.
The plea raised concerns over the imposition of market-rate rent for the occupied premises.
The party alleged that it became aware of the cancellation months later, on January 17, 2025, through a letter from the Directorate of Estates, which directed compliance with the order. However, AAP maintained that the actual cancellation order was never officially furnished to them.
It was argued that the Directorate of Estates issued a bill dated March 6, 2025, demanding payment of ₹6,60,361 as market rent for the use of the premises between September 14, 2024, and March 13, 2025. A subsequent bill, dated May 13, 2025, demanded ₹10,32,262 for the extended period from March 14, 2025, to April 29, 2025.
According to AAP a circular issued by the Directorate of Estates on July 10, 2023, revised the flat rates for General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) across the country and fixed the license fee at ₹5,420 per month for premises measuring 500 square metres. However, the market rent imposed on AAP exceeded this amount by over 1,000 per cent and functioned as a punitive measure arising from the 'ex-parte' cancellation of the allotment.
The petition argued that the rent bills were legally untenable, as they were based on the 'ex parte' cancellation order, which was passed in contravention of the principles of natural justice and the Allotment of Government Residence (General Pool in Delhi) Rules, 1963.
Case Title: Aam Aadmi Party v Union of India