Central Vista: Delhi HC to take up early hearing on plea to stop work

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 10

The Delhi High Court on Monday agreed to hear on Tuesday a plea for early hearing on a petition seeking stopping construction work related to the Central Vista redevelopment project in view of a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases.

“We are keeping it tomorrow,” a Bench led by Chief Justice DN Patel told senior advocate Siddharth Luthra after the latter mentioned it for early listing this morning.

The Central Vista redevelopment plan – which aims to free up 75 acre land in the heart of the Capital – involves demolition of around 10 buildings, including Shastri Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Vigyan Bhawan, Vice-President’s House and Lok Nayak Bhawan.

Announced in September last year, it envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with seating capacity for more than 1,200 MPs, expected to be constructed by August 2022 when the country will be celebrating 75th Independence Day. The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024.

Refusing to set aside the clearances given to the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, the Supreme Court had on January 5 said it couldn’t venture into policy matters and areas reserved for the Executive without any legal basis.

On Monday, Luthra explained that after the High Court posted the matter for hearing on May 17, petitioners — Anya Malhotra, who works as a translator, and documentary filmmaker Sohail Hashmi had moved the top court against the High Court’s May 4 order.

The High Court had adjourned the matter, saying it wanted to study the top court’s January 5 judgment giving a go ahead to the Central Vista project.