The Supreme Court has initiated a suo motu case concerning the proposed relocation of the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library from Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, amid the Central Vista redevelopment project. The matter is scheduled for hearing on October 5 before Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva, highlighting concerns over the preservation of a colonial-era institutional archive.
Supreme Court acts on preservation of historic Central Secretariat Library
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of concerns relating to the proposed relocation and potential demolition of the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library (CSL) located in Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. The library, part of the Central Vista redevelopment project, faces displacement as the building is slated for demolition. The matter is scheduled for hearing on October 5, 2026, before a bench comprising Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva.
Established as the Imperial Secretariat Library in Calcutta in 1891 and later shifted to New Delhi, CSL functions under the Union Ministry of Culture and houses irreplaceable collections of historical, legislative, and administrative significance. The Court’s intervention follows apprehensions about the lack of a transparent preservation plan for the library’s archives and heritage value during the redevelopment process.
The preservation of institutional memory and access to public records are integral to democratic accountability,the bench indicated during preliminary observations.
The suo motu action underscores judicial recognition of cultural heritage as part of the right to information and public access under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 21 of the Constitution. Legal experts suggest that the case may set a precedent for balancing urban infrastructure projects with the protection of public knowledge repositories. Practitioners should monitor developments as the Court may issue directions on archival preservation, environmental clearances, or public consultation norms under Heritage Conservation Regulations.
