SC junks plea stating Central Vista project affecting recreational area
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An aerial perspective of the entire Central Vista project. Photo: HCP Designs
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea challenging change in use of a plot, where official residence of Vice President will be built, on Central Vista project site from recreational to residential area.
A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar said that sufficient explanation has been offered by authorities concerned which justify the change in land use of the plot.
The top court noted that it is the prerogative of the authority concerned and that it is a matter of policy.
"In light of the challenge, a detailed affidavit has been filed. It is not the case of the petitioner that the authorities have no power to introduce such change. It is the argument of the Petitioner that since in the past it was a recreational area, it should have been retained like that. This cannot be the scope of judicial review", said a bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar.
The bench, also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and C T Ravikumar noted that it found no reason to examine the matter further and therefore put a quietus to the entire controversy by dismissing the petition.
The Central Vista revamp, announced in September 2019 envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with a seating capacity for 900 to 1,200 MPs, that is to be constructed by August, 2022 when the country will celebrate its 75th Independence Day.
The common Central Secretariat is to be built by 2024 under the project that covers a three-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in the national capital.