New Delhi | June 17, 2025 

In a development with significant political and legal implications, the Supreme Court of India has allowed the Samajwadi Party (SP) to approach the Allahabad High Court afresh against the eviction of its district office located in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. The apex court declined to entertain the party’s Special Leave Petition (SLP), but clarified that the party is well within its rights to file a new writ in the High Court independently of earlier litigation initiated by an individual party member.

Background of the Dispute

The matter stems from a long-standing political office space occupied by the Samajwadi Party in Pilibhit, which had been under lease from the local municipal body since 2005. In 2020, the Nagar Palika Parishad, Pilibhit, terminated the lease citing alleged irregularities in the allotment and issued an eviction notice.

A former district president of the party, Anand Singh Yadav, challenged the notice in the Allahabad High Court. His petition was, however, dismissed, and he was restrained from raising the matter again on similar grounds.

Supreme Court Observations

When the party approached the Supreme Court, it contended that the earlier petition filed by Yadav was a personal action, and the party as an institution was not a petitioner in that case. The SP requested the apex court to set aside the earlier High Court order and allow it to challenge the eviction officially.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Manoj Misra and P.B. Varale, declined to intervene directly, pointing out the considerable delay in filing the petition  reportedly close to 1,000 days.

However, the Court did not bar the party from approaching the Allahabad High Court independently. The bench clarified that the dismissal of Yadav’s personal plea does not preclude the political party itself from seeking judicial review.

Justice Misra, addressing the SP counsel, remarked:
“You are free to go to the High Court. Nothing in the earlier proceedings prevents the party itself from filing a fresh challenge.”