Central Vista project: Delhi HC dismisses plea to stop construction

New Delhi, May 31: The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking a halt on the ongoing construction of the Central Vista Project in the national capital amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Delhi HC further proceeded to impose costs of ₹1 lakh on the petitioners. A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh said that the ongoing project is of vital importance to the public.

 

The Central Vista project aims to redevelop a stretch at the heart of Lutyens Delhi, built in the 1930s. Of the Rs 20,000-crore sanctioned for the project, Rs 971 crore will be spent on a new Parliament building, and Rs 13,450 crore on new residences for the prime minister and the vice president. 

 

 

The bench had reserved verdict on May 17 after hearing Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra for the Petitioners, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the the Central Government and Senior Advocate Maninder Singh appearig or Shapoorji Pallonji Group, the project contractor. 

 

Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra appearing for the Petitioners pleaded that right to life and health is of paramount significance and hence, project may be halted in view of rising number of Covid-19 cases. He submitted that the authorities have not bothered to respond as to why the Central Vista project has been called an 'essential service' during the pandemic. "What we are concerned with is life and health of people at site and construction workers, and of people of Delhi," he said.

 

 

He submitted that about 400 workers are being ferried from Sarai Kale Khan to the construction site in buses. "There were 180 buses as per reports which hasn't been refuted and 400 workers were being taken daily, excluding the guards, security etc.," he pointed out. Labelling Central Vista as the 'Central Fortress of Death', Luthra further pointed out that the project is now completely off access and it is difficult to determine if the steps, so assured by

the Centre, have actually been taken. There is no publicly available material.

 

 

 

 

The Central Government has filed an affidavit before the High Court claiming that various Covid-19 compliant facilities have been provided for the workers at the site including provisions for their stay, testing, isolation and medical aid at the site.

 

It has also said that the instant petition is "an abuse of process of law" and must be dismissed with costs. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Central Government assured the Court that the project is being undertaken in accordance with law and measures have been taken to check the health and wellbeing of individuals.

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