SC allows foundation stone-laying ceremony for new Parliament building

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 7

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed displeasure over the Centre going ahead with the Central Vista Redevelopment Project without waiting for its verdict, even as it allowed the December 10 scheduled foundation laying for the project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar gave the concession after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta undertook on behalf of the Centre that no construction, demolition or felling of trees will take place until the matter was finally adjudicated upon.

“It should not be a fait accompli presented to the court. Stop at the foundation laying ceremony. Some deference must be shown to the Court,” said the Bench, which clarified that the government could proceed with paperwork relating to the project.

“Just because there is no stay, it does not mean that you (Centre) can go ahead with everything,” said the Bench that had on April 30 refused to stay the project.

The top court, which on November 5 had reserved its verdict on PILs challenging various permissions given by authorities for the redevelopment of Central Vista in Lutyens’ Delhi, specially assembled after coming to know that the government was going ahead with the project without waiting for its verdict.

On Monday, the court told Mehta: “We have shown deference to you and expected that you will act in a prudent manner. The same deference should be shown to the Court and there should be no demolition or construction.”

As the court expressed its displeasure, Mehta took time out from the court to seek instructions. He came back in five minutes; apologised to the court and gave an undertaking about not effecting any physical changes at the site.

The Central Vista redevelopment plan, which aims to free up the 75-acre land in the heart of the Capital, involves the demolition of around 10 buildings, including the Shastri Bhawan, the Udyog Bhawan, the Krishi Bhawan, the Vigyan Bhawan, the Vice President’s House and the Lok Nayak Bhawan.

Announced in September last year, it envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with seating capacity for 1,224 MPs, expected to be constructed by August 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day.

The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024.

The Gujarat-based architecture firm, HCP Design, Planning and Management Private Limited, has won the consultancy bid for the ambitious project to redevelop the Central Vista to construct a common central secretariat complex and a new Parliament building.

The petitioners, including activist Rajeev Suri, have challenged various permissions given to the project by the authorities, including the nod for change of land use. They have questioned the project over environmental clearance granted to the project and the historical value of the existing building.

Asserting that there was no element of arbitrariness or favouritism in selection of the consultant for the project, the Centre has defended the project, saying it would “save money” paid as rent for housing the Central Government ministries in the national capital.

Last month, Mehta had contended that “courts cannot strike down policy decisions merely because it feels a better policy decision could have been taken”.

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