Supreme Court seeks response from Centre on proposed relocation of 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library
The Supreme Court has requested a detailed response from the Indian government regarding the relocation of the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library. The court expressed concern over the adequacy of the proposed new space within the Central Vista redevelopment project.
Why it matters
The case highlights the tension between modern urban redevelopment projects and the preservation of historical and cultural institutions.
The Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) sought a detailed response from the Union government on the proposed relocation of the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library in Delhi, which houses over 8.5 lakh books, as part of the Central Vista redevelopment project.
A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva directed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Union government, to file a detailed affidavit within three weeks setting out the arrangements made for the library.
“It is a library that dates back to 1891, with writings from 1802. It is very well to say that we cut down on paper, but that does not mean we cut down on valuable paper. You are allotting two rooms in Kartavya Bhavan, that’s it?” the Bench remarked.
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2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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