The Delhi High Court has granted the Centre an extension until July 25 to decide on allocating office space to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), recognizing its status as a national party. Previously, the court had given the Centre six weeks to make a decision on this matter.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' Directorate of Estates requested an additional four weeks to comply with the court's directive. They cited the significant task of allotting official residences to Members of Parliament as the reason for needing more time, according to PTI.

Responding to this, the Delhi HC emphasized that administrative pressures or the unavailability of houses in the general pool cannot justify rejecting the AAP's request.

Meanwhile, the AAP informed the court that the Supreme Court had allowed the Centre until August 10 to vacate their current office at Rouse Avenue, extending the initial deadline of June 15 due to the allocation of the land for judicial infrastructure by the Delhi High Court.

The AAP argued against further delays, pointing out previous deadlines set by the Supreme Court regarding the vacation of their current office space. The Delhi High Court reiterated that national parties are entitled to office space in Delhi and urged the Centre to act promptly.

The Centre was criticized by senior counsel for seeking additional time without demonstrating an inability to comply with the High Court's directive on office space allocation.

Justice Sanjeev Narula noted, "Tomorrow is the last date when the order completes six weeks... You chose not to come before this court. What is the purpose to come at the fag end? If you don't want to give, what is stopping them from giving a reasoned order that you don't want to give."

Rather than allowing further delays, the court extended the deadline to July 25, 2024, with an expectation of no further extension requests.

Earlier, on June 5, the High Court had ruled that the AAP should be granted office space in Delhi comparable to other national political parties. The court emphasized that national political parties have the right to obtain a housing unit from the general pool in Delhi for office use, paying a license fee until they secure land for their own accommodation.

Last year, the AAP had filed two separate petitions with the High Court: one seeking land in the national capital for constructing offices and the other requesting a housing unit on a license basis.