The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has requested that the Delhi High Court direct the Centre to provide a residence in Delhi for party leader Arvind Kejriwal. AAP’s counsel argued that as the president of a national party, Kejriwal is entitled to official accommodation in the capital per established guidelines.
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has approached the Delhi High Court seeking an official residence in Delhi for its national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, as per the guidelines for national party presidents. Senior counsel representing AAP highlighted in court that under these guidelines, the president of any recognized national political party is eligible for a residence in the capital city. Since Kejriwal meets all necessary criteria, AAP believes he should be granted such a provision.
Justice Sanjeev Narula has requested the Centre’s response to AAP’s petition, scheduling the next hearing for November 26. AAP’s legal representation argued that despite sending a formal request for accommodation on September 20, followed by a reminder, there has been no action on the Centre’s part to address the matter.
“All pre-conditions are met. There is a national convenor, who is the national president. We want it to be in a centrally-located place,”
asserted AAP’s counsel.
Under the Guidelines for Allotment of Accommodation from the General Pool to Political Parties, recognized national political parties are entitled to secure one unit from the general pool in Delhi for office use at a licence fee. Citing this rule, the Delhi High Court ruled in June that AAP is entitled to office space, like any other national party, and consequently, the Centre allotted them an office at Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane in Lutyens Delhi.
The guidelines further clarify that one residence will be allocated to the president of a recognized national political party if they do not own or occupy a house in Delhi under any official capacity. Following his resignation as Delhi’s chief minister, Kejriwal vacated his former residence at Flagstaff Road and has since temporarily moved to a party colleague’s home near Mandi House.
Recently, after being released from Tihar Jail on September 13 on Supreme Court-granted bail, Kejriwal vowed to seek re-election as CM only after he earns what he called a “certificate of honesty” from Delhi citizens in the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled for February.
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