Supreme Court to Hear Challenge over Central Secretariat Library Relocation

On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear a suo motu case concerning the relocation of Delhi's Central Secretariat Library, a 135-year-old institution with a collection exceeding 8.5 lakh volumes. The matter, filed on October 3, is being examined by Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva under the title “In Re: 135-Yr-Old Library 8.5 Lakh Books- And No Room In The New Central Vista Plan.” The library, originally the Imperial Secretariat Library established in Kolkata in 1891, was moved to Delhi after the capital shift in 1911 and later settled in Shastri Bhawan.

The Central Vista redevelopment plan calls for the demolition of Shastri Bhawan, prompting concerns over suitable new premises. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs asserts that space has been earmarked in the Kartavya Path project, yet the Culture Ministry has replied that the two rooms allotted in Kartavya Bhawan-2 are inadequate for the full collection. The Supreme Court’s intervention highlights the tension between heritage preservation and urban redevelopment.