SC dismisses plea challenging Delhi HC order rejecting PIL to halt Central Vista work
Judiciary

SC dismisses plea challenging Delhi HC order rejecting PIL to halt Central Vista work

The apex court declined to interfere, stating that the PIL petitioners had selectively targeted Central Vista Project amid other public projects which were allowed during lockdown.

   

The Central Vista construction site in New Delhi, on 31 May 2021 | ANI Photo

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea challenging the Delhi High Court order which had rejected a PIL seeking to halt Central Vista construction work in view of the COVID pandemic.

A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Aniruddha Bose said it is not inclined to interfere with the High Court order as the PIL petitioners had selectively chosen Central Vista Project and did not even do basic research about other public projects which were allowed during the lockdown in the national capital.

It said that findings of the Delhi HC on the PIL that it was “motivated” and filed with “ill-intent” and “lack of bona fides” is possible a view.

The top court also refused to interfere with the Rs 1 lakh cost imposed on the petitioners.

The main Cental Vista project envisages building a new Parliament House, a new residential complex to house offices and the prime minister and the vice president.

It will also have new office buildings and a Central Secretariat to accommodate various ministries.


Also read: Central Vista ‘project of national importance’: Delhi HC dismisses plea to halt construction