Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
The Apex Court granted permission for the filing of a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. The petition filed for challenging the Environmental Clearance granted on June 17, 2020, for the construction of a new Parliament building as part of the Central Government’s ambitious Central Vista Project.
The Apex Court pronounced this after a former IAS officer and two environmentalists sought intervention in the matter and to recall the court’s order on June 21, which had said that any application or proceeding regarding the Central Vista Project will be heard by the Supreme Court.
The parties, Meena Gupta, the former secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests and environmentalists Pradip Krishnan and AshokKothari in their application filed through advocate Anshuman Srivastatava on July 7, pointed out at other issues like grant of environmental clearance, which is likely to be challenged before the National Green Tribunal. SC’s previous order caused a barrier to taking any remedy to other legal aids.
The bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dinesh Maheshwari, headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar told the senior advocate Shyam Divan to file a fresh petition and for this, his clients will be given a week's time. The bench further said that the Center will have to reply to the plea within a week of receiving the same.
The bench made it clear that it shall hear the issues related to the aspects of the challenge to “LandUse” only. To this Senior Advocate, Sanjay Hegde argued that the clearances obtained for the Parliament building were part of the Central Vista Project and there could be no change in the land use in terms of the same.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan argued challenging the validity of the Environmental clearances which were granted on June 17. He further added that the process was moved with non-application of mind on part of the EAC and all the necessary legal process was neglected in the case.
He further added that the concerned ministry ought to have examined the proposal for the new Parliament building as part of the Project.
The Central Public Works Department had also filed an affidavit saying that a new parliament building was necessary as the existing one has become old and packed to the capacity.
After the hearing, the bench stated that it shall further hear the issues relating to ‘land use’ on August 17, 2020.
86540
103860
630
114
59824