Delhi HC Rejects Plea to Halt Central Vista Const; Fines Petitioners Rs 1 lakh
The Delhi high court on 31st May dismissed a plea that sought direction to suspend all construction activity of the Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project. The continuation of the project was challenged in view of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The high court while refusing to stay construction said that as the labourers are staying on-site, "no question of suspending the construction work arises". "The concerned Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) order in question nowhere prohibits construction work," said the Delhi high court. The court said under the contract awarded to the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, work had to be completed by November 2021 and, therefore, it should be allowed to continue. The legality of the project was already upheld by the Supreme Court, said the Delhi HC. In the joint plea by Anya Malhotra, a translator, and Sohail Hashmi, a historian and documentary filmmaker, the petitioners had contended that the project was not an essential activity and can be put on hold for time being. During the May 17 hearing, the Centre had termed the plea as a "facade" or a "disguise", aimed at stalling the project. Hard-hitting arguments against the maintainability of the plea were made during the hearing. Countering the petitioners' claims, the Centre's law officer had said one of the petitioners had been opposed to the project long before it got the go-ahead from the Supreme Court in January this year. He said the petitioners were not concerned with the health and safety of workers at other construction sites in the city.
Tags : ALLIED Delhi HC Rejects Plea Halt Central Vista Construction Fines Petitioners