The Supreme Court of India has directed the Union government to furnish a detailed affidavit within three weeks on the proposed relocation of the 135‑year‑old Central Secretariat Library as part of the Central Vista redevelopment project.
The directive came from a Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, which asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to outline the arrangements made for the library, including the space earmarked, layout plans, and preservation measures.
Spread across four floors of Shastri Bhawan, the library houses more than 8.5 lakh books, making it one of the largest repositories of government records and reference material in the country. Reports earlier indicated that the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) had instructed the library to vacate the premises by September 30, along with other offices, ahead of demolition and reconstruction work.
The Court’s suo motu intervention comes amid concerns from scholars, researchers, and heritage activists about safeguarding the library’s vast collection during the redevelopment. The move is seen as a significant step in ensuring transparency and accountability in the Central Vista project, which has faced criticism over its impact on heritage structures and public institutions.
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