The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking to halt construction work at Central Vista Avenue, saying it was a motivated petition and the project was of national importance.
Describing the Central Vista Avenue redevelopment, which entails construction activities on Rajpath and the surrounding lawns from the India Gate to the Rashtrapati Bhawan, as a “vital and essential” project of national importance, a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh of the court dismissed the plea against it saying it was “motivated” and filed with “ill-intent” and “lack of bonafides”.
After the HC order, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri hit back at the Opposition’s criticism over the Central Vista project saying a false narrative is being created over the project.
He once again asserted that “no heritage building would be touched” and that a new Parliament Building was a “necessity”, not a vanity project.
The High Court said the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was not genuine and also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioners citing lack of bonafide on their side. was hearing the plea by Anya Malhotra, a translator, and Sohail Hashmi, a historian and documentary filmmaker, seeking to halt the ongoing part redevelopment of the Central Vista Avenue which includes both sides of Rajpath where Republic Day celebration are held.
“In fact, the whole Central Vista project is an essential project of national importance, where the sovereign functions of Parliament are also to be conducted. The public is vitally interested in this project,” the bench said.
Hitting out at the Opposition, Puri said he has been noticing that a false narrative is being created over the central project. “...for the past few months a false narrative is being created about the Central Vista project. None of the historic iconic cultural buildings will be touched. They will remain exactly as they are. Currently, two new projects are underway - The New Parliament Building and the Central Vista Avenue. A decision on these projects was taken before the pandemic,” Puri added.
The Minister also stated that the decision on the New Parliament Building and the Central Vista Avenue was taken before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.