Lekha G
The Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea against adjournment to halt construction activity at the Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project during the widespread Covid-19 pandemic.
The Apex Court was hearing the appeal against the May 4 order of the High Court which listed the PIL for hearing on May 17.
It directed the Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra to mention the matter before the High Court for urgent listing on May 10.
The Senior Advocate Luthra representing the petitioners, contended that the matter is of paramount importance referring to the current situation the country is facing.
Luthra also pointed out that the respondents were only concerned with the challenge to the permission granted for the continuation of construction.
Luthra further referred to the letter written by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for the continuation of construction work in the Central Vista Project on the ground that it was a time-bound work.
Luthra questioned how construction activity can be essential work.
He further said that, “Labours are being transported from Sarai Kale Khan and Karol Bagh area to Raj Path and Central Vista, where construction work is going on. This enhances chances of spread of Covid infection among them.”
He added that when the entire nation is considering lockdown, construction activity cannot be allowed.
Justice Saran said, “When we are sitting in closed rooms with face masks, itself shows the situation is grim. We would not like to make any further comments on the Covid situation as other Benches are seized of the matter, otherwise our remarks may be misinterpreted.”
The Top Court dismissed the plea.
Petitioners Anya Malhotra and Sohail Hashmi claimed that the continuation of the project is a matter of concern due to the degrading healthcare system in the country and the lives of the workers employed being at stake.
The Project is related to the construction of 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.
