The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday dismissed a plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s order which refused to stay construction work of the Central Vista project around India Gate in view of the Covid pandemic.
The apex court dismissed the plea, expressing agreement with the Delhi High Court’s view that the petitioners were “selective” in challenging one project on the reason of Covid-19.
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.
Advertisement
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.
With PTI inputs
