The Supreme Court has directed the Union to file a detailed affidavit, with layout plans, on the space allotted under the Central Vista redevelopment plan for the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library, which houses about 8.5 lakh books.
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Union Government to file an affidavit giving full specifications of the area allotted for the Central Secretariat Library under the Central Vista plan, along with the actual layout plans, and to state whether the space can accommodate the books now held at Shastri Bhawan as well as those stored in cartons at RK Puram, in a suo motu case registered over the library’s relocation [In Re: 135-Yr-Old Library, 8.5 Lakh Books, And No Room In The New Central Vista Plan].
A Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva also appointed Senior Advocate Haripriya Padmanabhan as amicus curiae to assist the Court in the matter.
Background
The Court registered the suo motu case, numbered SMW(C) No. 21/2026, over the proposed relocation of the Central Secretariat Library, currently housed at Shastri Bhawan, which faces demolition under the Central Vista redevelopment. The library houses about 8.5 lakh books, and a further 2 lakh books are stored in cartons at RK Puram.
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has stated that space has been allocated for the library under the Kartavya Path redevelopment plan. Concerns have been raised that the space is inadequate for the collection.
The Court’s questions
During the hearing, Justice Kumar referred to the library’s history and questioned the extent of space allotted:
“If we go by the news report, this library dates back to 1891…You are allotting only 2 rooms in the Kartavya Bhavan?”
He also asked about the books stored outside the main collection:
“You are leaving out 2 lac books in RK Puram?”
Directions
The Supreme Court directed the Union to file a detailed affidavit containing the full specifications of the allocated area with actual layout plans, and confirming whether the space adequately accommodates the books currently at Shastri Bhawan together with those stored at RK Puram. It appointed Senior Advocate Haripriya Padmanabhan as amicus curiae.
Why The Supreme Court Order Matters
The direction moves the case from the fact of allotment to its adequacy. By asking for layout plans rather than a statement of intent, the Court has put the Ministry‘s position that space has been earmarked to a documentary test, and it will now have the library’s whole collection, including the books in storage, before it.
The questions put by Justice Kumar at the hearing are observations made during a suo motu proceeding and are not findings. The Union’s affidavit and the assistance of the amicus curiae will shape what the Court decides next.
Case Title: In Re: 135-Yr-Old Library, 8.5 Lakh Books, And No Room In The New Central Vista Plan [SMW(C) No. 21/2026]
Bench: Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Supreme Court of India
Amicus Curiae: Haripriya Padmanabhan, Senior Advocate