SC asks Centre to furnish details on relocation of Central Secretariat Library under Central Vista project

Spread over four floors and nearly 5,500 sq. m. of Shastri Bhawan, the Central Secretariat Library houses more than 8.5 lakh books. File | Photo Credit: PTI

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) sought a detailed affidavit 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. The court sought details of the space earmarked for the library, along with its layout plans.

The court’s suo motu intervention comes amid reports that the library, currently 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 Central Public Works Department (CPWD) had asked the library, along with other offices in the complex, to remove all furniture and electronic equipment ahead of demolition and reconstruction work.

A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva directed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Union government, to file an affidavit within three weeks setting out the arrangements made for the library. It also stressed the need to preserve its valuable books, paper records, and archival material.

“It is a library that dates back to 1891, with writings from 1702. It’s fine to say we should cut down on paper, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of the valuable papers you already have. You are allotting two rooms in that Kartavya Bhavan, that’s it?”, the Bench remarked.