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SC Prioritize Land Use Matter in Central Vista Project
Petitions are filed raising concerns over the central vista project covering 3 Km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India gate in Lutyens’ Delhi. These petitions are filed by the green activists and heritage lovers raising certain issues for protection over the land area that has been utilized and the structure that would be constructed in this project.
The petitioners have opposed this project on the ground that it would adversely affect the environment, reducing the green cover in the area to 9 percent from existing 86% percent and irretrievably change the heart of the city.
The Supreme Court on Thursday while looking in the matter of Rajeev Suri v. Union of India contended that the court will hear broad issue regarding challenge to the change of land use being contrary to the provisions of Delhi Development Act, 1957. The court further listed all the issues which are put forth in front of the bench which are as followed,
- Change of land use under Delhi Development Act, 1957;
- Violation of statutory municipal law;
- Environmental clearance and other allied matters;
- General declaration / other issues.
These issues were presented in front of a bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Justice Sajiv Khanna.
Learned counsel Shyam Divan, representing the petitioner, urged the bench to issue notice on the writ petition filled by him which expands the issues and include environmental clearance matters too. Justice A.M Khanwilkar while refusing to issue notice for this contended that, “Please understand, if land use decided in favour of petitioner, then we will not go into the other issues as the project will be stalled. Why increase the burden?” as the land use matters were prioritized.
The court further listed this matter on 25th august, 2020, on the request by learned solicitor general on the grounds that he may be required in some other court which was not opposed by the other party counsels.
Further the court allowed the parties to give suggestions on the preference list made by the bench and if any modifications required may put forward in the next date of hearing i.e. 25th august, 2020.
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