The Center told the Supreme Court on Monday that it will not carry out any construction, demolition or translocation of trees at the Central Vista project site in the heart of the national capital, Delhi, until the Supreme Court decides on the disputed petitions. the project.
However, the court allowed the government to go ahead with the inauguration ceremony and complete the paperwork related to the project. The high court assent comes three days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone for a new Parliament building that was proposed as part of the mega-project on Thursday, December 10. The building is estimated to cost Rs 971 crore.
A court of judges AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maaheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna held a special hearing in the case – it has already reserved its verdict on the petitions against the project – and indicated its displeasure to Attorney General Tushar Mehta at reports that the agencies had started working. on the ground before its ruling.
“It should not be a fait accompli presented in court…. Stop at the foundation laying ceremony. A certain deference must be shown to the court, ”observed the bank.
The judges indicated that they could approve a suspension order if a statement is not received from the Center.
Attorney General Mehta took a five-minute break to receive instructions from the government and returned with a promise that all physical work being carried out at the site will be put on hold until the court’s verdict.
The higher court recorded the SG’s statement and said: “We clarify that the authorities will be free to undertake other formal processes, including the continuation of the foundation-laying ceremony program on December 10, without altering the site in question in any way. “.
Mehta informed the supreme court that construction has not yet started and that the trees have been moved to a nursery. It stated that no demolition activity is taking place.
The Court, citing a press release stating that construction works would begin shortly, said: “The fact that we have not granted the suspension does not mean that you can do everything.”
Last month, on November 5, the Court reserved orders on a batch of 10 petitions filed by Rajeev Suri, Anuj Srivastava and others that questioned how the Central Vista project obtained various authorizations.
The petitions claimed that the project was planned by destroying heritage buildings and passing unified building regulations.
The redevelopment plan includes a new Parliament building and a common secretariat for the central government offices together with the Prime Minister’s office and residence, the Special Protection Group building and the Vice President’s Enclave.
In addition to a new parliament building, the Central View project involves the construction of a common Central Secretariat together with the residences of the Prime Minister and Vice President, and a renovation of the 3 km long Rajpath, from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Gate of India.
The new triangular parliament complex, often described as the centerpiece of the Vista Central project, will be large enough to house 1,224 MPs – 888 in Lok Sabha and 384 in the Upper House. It is scheduled to be built in 2024. The new 64,500-square-meter building will replace the current 93-year-old House of Parliament.
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