8.5 lakh books, 135 years of history: Supreme Court to hear case on relocation of Central Secretariat Library on Monday
Supreme Court to Examine Future of 135-Year-Old Central Secretariat Library
Theindiapostdaily.com – The future of Delhi’s Central Secretariat Library, home to more than 8.5 lakh books and a long institutional history, is set to come before the Supreme Court on Monday, October 5. The court has taken suo motu cognisance of concerns surrounding the library’s proposed relocation during the Central Vista redevelopment process.
A bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva is scheduled to consider the matter. The case, registered on October 3, is titled “In Re: 135-Yr-Old Library 8.5 Lakh Books– And No Room In The New Central Vista Plan”.
The proceedings bring attention to the challenge of preserving a major government library while several offices and buildings in central Delhi are being reorganised under the wider redevelopment plan. Beyond its large collection, the library represents more than a century of continuity in the records, reference material and reading resources available to government institutions.
Questions Over Space for the Collection
The Central Secretariat Library is currently located in Shastri Bhawan and occupies four floors. Its position has become uncertain because the building is expected to be demolished and redeveloped as part of the Central Vista project.
Ministries were directed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to vacate Shastri Bhawan by the end of September, clearing the way for the next stage of redevelopment. The library’s possible move has raised concerns over whether sufficient temporary or permanent space has been identified for its books, facilities and users.
Two rooms in the Kartavya Bhawan-2 complex were allotted for the library. The Ministry of Culture, which oversees the institution, responded on February 26 that the designated area was not adequate for the complete collection and associated facilities. It also stated that moving the library in its entirety would not be feasible within that space.
For a collection of this size, relocation is not simply a question of shifting shelves. Books, periodicals, catalogues and other materials require orderly handling, storage and access arrangements. Any uncertainty over accommodation can affect the library’s ability to remain functional during a transition, particularly when its holdings have been accumulated across generations.
A Library With Roots in the Colonial Era
The institution began in Kolkata in 1891 as the Imperial Secretariat Library. It moved to Delhi after the British administration transferred the capital in 1911. Following the construction of North Block in the 1930s, the library was housed there before being shifted to Shastri Bhawan in 1969.
That journey reflects the changing administrative geography of India’s capital. Over 135 years, the library has survived changes in governments, offices and public institutions while continuing to hold an extensive body of printed material. Its collection of more than 8.5 lakh books gives the issue significance beyond a routine building relocation.
The case before the Supreme Court focuses on whether the library’s requirements have been properly accommodated as the Central Vista plan advances. The court’s intervention places the matter under judicial scrutiny at a time when concerns have emerged about the availability of appropriate space.
Government Says Provision Has Been Made
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has maintained that the redevelopment plan does provide for the Central Secretariat Library. In a post on X, the ministry said construction-related steps for the library were in progress.
“Contrary to a few reports, it is clarified that space for the Central Secretariat Library has been provided for in the Kartavya Path redevelopment plan. The necessary process for construction of the library is underway,” the Ministry said.
The ministry’s clarification suggests that a longer-term location has been envisaged under the Kartavya Path redevelopment framework. However, the questions raised over the two rooms in Kartavya Bhawan-2 underline the distinction between interim accommodation and a facility capable of housing the library’s full scale of operations.
The Supreme Court hearing may provide greater clarity on the proposed arrangements, the protection of the collection and the timeline for a suitable library space. The central issue is whether a historic institution with 8.5 lakh books can be moved without compromising its holdings, services or future accessibility.
As Delhi’s central administrative district undergoes major physical change, the library’s case highlights a wider challenge: redevelopment must account not only for offices and infrastructure, but also for institutions whose value rests in continuity, preservation and public knowledge.
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