India’s Supreme Court seeks government plan for relocation of historic Delhi library

India’s Supreme Court has sought a detailed response from the Union government over the proposed relocation of Delhi’s 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library, which contains more than 850,000 books and records. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva directed the government to file an affidavit within three weeks. The library is currently housed across four floors and nearly 5,500 square metres of Shastri Bhawan.

The proposed move forms part of the Central Vista redevelopment project. The Hindu reported that the library had been directed on 17 September to vacate the premises by 30 September, although the supplied reports do not establish whether the relocation has begun or whether the facility is currently operating as usual. During the hearing, the bench questioned whether the proposed accommodation in Kartavya Bhavan would be sufficient.

The judges referred to the institution’s age and historical holdings, asking why only two rooms were being allotted for a library that dates from 1891 and contains writings dating back to 1802. The court’s remarks focused on the distinction between reducing the use of paper and protecting valuable historical material. The Hindu quoted the bench as saying that efforts to cut down on paper should not mean cutting down on “valuable paper”.

The judges’ concern was directed at the arrangements made for the collection rather than at the broader merits of the Central Vista project. The Central Secretariat Library contains rare books, official records and gazetteers. Government officials use its holdings, and students preparing for competitive examinations also access the collection, according to The Hindu.

Its history predates the establishment of New Delhi as India’s capital. The library was established in 1891 in what was then Calcutta under the name Imperial Secretariat Library. After the decision to shift the capital to Delhi in 1911, it moved to the Old Secretariat Building in Civil Lines.

It was later transferred to North Block and then to Shastri Bhawan, where it has remained since 1969. NDTV described the case as “In Re: 135-yr-old library, 8.5 lakh books-and no room in the Central Vista plan”. Its account said the Supreme Court was scheduled to hear the matter on Monday but did not provide details of the government’s submissions, the parties involved or the specific relief being sought.

The Hindu’s report records the subsequent direction for an affidavit. The reports differ in how far they describe the proposed solution. The Hindu identifies Kartavya Bhavan and the allocation of two rooms, while NDTV does not name an alternative location or say where the books would go.

Neither account establishes whether the court has ordered the library to remain in Shastri Bhawan, approved a relocation or required a particular preservation plan. The government’s affidavit, due within three weeks, is expected to set out the arrangements for the library. Until that response is filed, questions remain over the amount of space available, the handling of rare material and continuity of access for officials and students.

The court has not yet issued a final ruling on the library’s future.