HC seeks govt stand on Cong’s 7, Jantar Mantar Road plea
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the stand of the Center and the Delhi government in a petition Indian National Congress Seeking execution of a sale deed on behalf of the party for the ex-headquarters at 7, Jantar Mantar Road.Justice Purushendra Kumar Kaurav issued a notice to the authorities but refused to issue any interim order. Even as senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the AICC, requested the High Court to ensure that the premises are not allotted to someone else, the court said it will first examine whether the application is maintainable.Justice Kaurav said the petitioner must satisfy maintainability before seeking interim relief. “Look at the government’s response. You may need to file a civil suit. It seems to be out of bounds,” the judge said.Singhvi argued that the INC was an allottee who had been in possession of the property for decades. “I have repeatedly asked for execution of a conveyance deed. No denial. No response. I am in possession for 70 years. I have all documents and payments. They should not assign it to anyone else,” he told the HC.The Congress said it had occupied part of the property since February 1946, allotted in 1956. It paid Rs 6.1 lakh in 1959 for the sale consideration. Since 2017, it has made representations to the Delhi government — responsible for property management — to execute the sale deed, but to no avail, the petition claimed.
