New Delhi, October 8: The Central Secretariat Library, recognized as the second largest government library in India, is facing demolition under the Central Vista Project. Established in 1969 within Shastri Bhawan, this historic library spans 5,500 square meters across four floors. However, plans to relocate its vast collection of 8.9 lakh books have yet to be finalized.
The library houses rare books dating back to 1702, along with government records and gazetteers, serving as a vital resource for government officials and students preparing for competitive exams.
On October 5, the Supreme Court took cognizance of the situation, demanding a response from the central government within three weeks regarding the relocation of the library. The court inquired about the space allocated for the library in the new Central Vista plan.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva has requested detailed layout plans and information in an affidavit. They raised concerns over the proposal to accommodate the library and its 8.5 lakh books in just two rooms at RK Puram, questioning the fate of the additional 2 lakh books stored there. Senior Advocate Haripriya Padmanabhan has been appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court.
In 2023, the Ministry of Culture had requested a new location for the library. The Central Vista Project, which spans from Raisina Hill to India Gate, aims to redevelop the area, including the demolition of Shastri Bhawan to construct new buildings. The project was announced in 2019, and questions have arisen about how such an old library will be relocated.
The library was established under the Imperial Library Act of 1901, intended to serve as a reference library for students and historians. The first curator, F.W. Forrester, collected volumes under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, laying the foundation for what became known as the Imperial Library.
In 1912, with the capital’s shift to Delhi, the library was relocated to the old Secretariat building in Civil Lines. It was later moved to the North Block in 1931, where it has remained.
Currently, the Central Public Works Department has instructed all ministries to vacate the building by September 30, but a new location for the library has not been identified. The library administration rejected an offer of two rooms totaling 300 square meters in the new Duty Building-2, emphasizing that the library serves as a working archive for the Indian state, preserving institutional memories and records of past governments.
Concerns about the safety of the library’s extensive collection have been raised, especially in light of discussions surrounding the demolition of the National Archives Annex and the relocation of the National Museum’s collection.