The Hon’ble Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a PIL petition seeking suspension of construction activities related to the Central Vista Project. The project by the central government was initiated to build a new Parliament and rejuvenation of the central administrative area, the Central Vista Avenue. With an estimated cost of 1,339 Crores the project plan was widely criticised by the opposition parties and intelligentsia as a wastage of money saying that it could have been used for improving the health facilities in the country during this pandemic.
Even though the project was cleared by a majority judgement by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. It was again challenged in a PIL plea before the Delhi High Court on the grounds that it was not an essential activity and hence, could be put on hold during the pandemic crisis. The petitioners stressed for the safety of the workmen engaged in the construction of the project from the threat posed by super spreading potentiality of the corona virus during its peak phase.
However, the Hon’ble Court on Monday dismissed the petition and also imposed a cost of 1lakh rupees on the petitioners. The Hon’ble Court while dismissing the petition stated that the Central Vista Project is an essential project of national importance since it is the place where sovereign functions of the Parliament are going to be conducted and the public is vitally interested in this project. Stating that the PIL was not a genuine one the Hon’ble Court also said,” time is of essence, they have to complete the project before November.”
The Hon’ble High Court Bench headed by Chief Justice D.N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh further stated that when workers stay at the site adhering to COVID safety norms it is unnecessary to stall the construction activities of the project.
