SC to hear suo motu case over relocation of 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library
The Supreme Court has initiated a suo motu case regarding the relocation of the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library, which faces displacement due to the Central Vista redevelopment project. The court will examine the lack of designated space for the library's 8.5 lakh books in the new plan.
Why it matters
The case raises significant questions about the preservation of historical and cultural assets during large-scale government infrastructure redevelopment.
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the proposed relocation of the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library , which reportedly has not been allocated space in the Central Vista redevelopment plan despite being one of the country’s oldest government libraries.
The court’s intervention comes amid reports that the library, housed in the Shastri Bhawan complex, was directed on September 17 to vacate the premises by September 30 as part of the redevelopment project.
The matter will be heard on Monday (October 5, 2026) by a Bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva.
“The competent authority [the Chief Justice of India] has been pleased to direct the registration of a fresh suo motu writ petition,” a note issued by the Supreme Court Registry while listing the matter states.
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