Key Points:
- Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh ruled that the work currently ongoing is part and parcel of project and of vital importance and can’t be seen in isolation.
- The court mentioned that the workers at the Central Vista Project were being provided all the facilities and the Covid-19 norms were also being followed and so, there was no reason for it to exercise powers under Article 226 to stop the project.
- Under the contract awarded to the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, work had to be completed by November 2021, said the Delhi HC and, therefore, it should be allowed to continue.
- The Court also ruled in its statement an imposition of Rs.1 lakh on the petitioners as the court observed that the filed petition is not of genuine public interest litigation petition but a “motivated” one.
On Monday, May 31, the Dhi High Court was seeing the Central Vista case that asked the High Court to hold the ongoing construction of the same.
The Delhi High Court, in its judgement, said that the Central Vista Projects is of national importance and hence, should be continued with its construction process.
The case was seen by a bench of two Justice. It was headed by Chief Justice DN Patel and he was accompanied by Justice Jyoti Singh. The bench of Justices ruled that the work currently ongoing is part and parcel of project and of vital importance and can’t be seen in isolation.
The complaint plead to stop the ongoing Central Vista construction amidst the ever increasing Covid-19 cases in the National Capital, Delhi.
The court had reserved the judgment on the issue on May 17. After 16 days, the court finally pronounced its verdict, giving a green signal for the construction to continue.
“..the whole Central Vista Project is an essential project of National importance, where the sovereign functions of Parliament are also to be conducted. Public is vitally interested in this project.,” the Court said.
Not just this but the court also mentioned that the workers at the site of the Central Vista Project were being provided all the facilities and the Covid-19 norms were also being followed and hence, there was no reason for it to exercise powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to stop the project.
The Court also ruled in its statement an imposition of Rs. 1 Lakh on the petitioners as the court observed that the filed petition is not of genuine public interest litigation petition but a “motivated” one.
“..challenge to the on-going construction activity with regard to one particular Project, is a pointer to the ill-intent and lack of bonafides of the petitioners in filing the present petition..several other agencies like CPWD, NBCC, DMRC, PWD, IICC and DDA are undertaking construction projects in the territory of National Capital Region of Delhi. It is obvious that petitioners have selectively chosen only one project which is of National importance, at a vital place where Republic Day Celebrations are held in Delhi and is a part and parcel of the larger project, namely, Central Vista Project, legality whereof has already been upheld by Hon’ble the Supreme Court in the judgment dated 5th, January 2021.”, the order reads.
Under the contract awarded to the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, work had to be completed by November 2021, said the Delhi HC and, therefore, it should be allowed to continue.
