[Central Vista] "Matter of serious public health concern:" Appeal in Supreme Court against Delhi High Court judgment allowing construction

The Delhi High Court judgment dismissing the plea to halt Central Vista redevelopment activities, has been challenged before the Supreme Court. .The appellant Pradeep Kumar Yadav challenged the May 31 verdict of the High Court which had ruled that Central Vista Project is an essential project of national importance and public is vitally interested in the project. Interestingly, Yadav was not a party to the proceedings before the Delhi High Court. .The plea before the Supreme Court stated that the High Court was not justified in holding the Central Vista redevelopment project as "essential activity" during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic crisis, "especially when the whole country has stopped essential functions during the lockdown period including the courts.."High Court was not justified in holding that the workers of Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment project was residing at the project site when the respondent Government and SPCPL in their respective affidavit has clearly stated that the workers of the said project was staying at Sarai Kale Khan Camp which is not project site, from there itself the movement pass was issued to the said laborers and supervisors to construction site," the appeal said. .The redevelopment project in the Central Vista area of Lutyens Delhi envisages a new Parliament House, a new residential complex that will house the Prime Minister and the Vice-President, as well as several new office buildings and a Central Secretariat to accommodate Ministry offices.A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court had, on January 5, given its green signal to the project, rejecting a batch of petitions challenging the scheme for alleged violation of land use and environmental norms.A plea was later filed before the Delhi High Court seeking temporary halt on construction activities citing COVID-19. .A Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh had, however, ruled that the work currently ongoing is part and parcel of project and of vital importance and can't be seen in isolation."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 High Court said.The High Court also stated that the workers are staying at the site and all facilities have been provided and the Covid-19 protocols are being adhered to. Hence, there was no reason for it to exercise powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to stop the project..[BREAKING] "Central Vista essential project of national importance:" Delhi High Court dismisses plea to halt construction with Rs. 1 lakh costs.The appeal before the Supreme Court stated that at a time when Delhi is grappling with the virus outbreak, construction activities for Central Vista will nullify and negate the efforts being put in place to control the spread of the viral infection.."At a time when the city of Delhi is grappling with the virus outbreak, the impugned acts of the Respondents will nullify and negate the efforts being put to control the spread of the viral infection. Compared to the larger interest of protecting lives of people, sanctity of a date of completion of the Project for construction can have no meaning, relevance or importance. The time-lines within which the Project is to be completed, can always be extended keeping in view the on-ground situation and circumstances arising out of the Pandemic," the appeal said.