Central Vista Project: SC Dismisses Plea Challenging Change In Land Use Of Plot

Mumbai: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition on the issue of a proposed change in land use of a plot where the new official residences of the Vice President and Prime Minister are scheduled as part of the Central Vista project in Lutyens’ Delhi.

A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar said it is a matter of policy decision and the court cannot interfere unless the judgment shows some malpractice. The contention of the petitioner that since it was a recreation area in the past, it should have been kept as such, the bench took note of the arguments of the petitioner and observed that it cannot be subject to judicial review.

“It is not the case of the petitioner that the change is in a ‘mala fide’ manner. We find no reason to examine the matter further and thus dismiss the petition summarily,” said the Bench while dictating the order.

The top court was hearing a petition filed by Rajeev Suri challenging the conversion of land use of plot number one from recreational area to residential, contending that the authorities had not shown any public interest so far as There is no public interest to change. Land use from recreational to residential. Conspiracy is concerned.

The petitioner’s counsel Shiv Suri argued that conversion of the open green area into a residential area is against public interest and acquisition of about 6 acres of the green area is proposed.

In September 2019, the government had announced that Central Vista, which will have a seating capacity of 900 to 1,200 MPs, to be constructed by August 2022 when the country celebrates its 75th Independence Day.

The common central secretariat is likely to be constructed by 2024 under this project, which will cover a distance of 3 km from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in Delhi.

In January this year, the top court had said that the notification of environmental clearance and change in land use for the construction of a new Parliament building under the project is valid.

The apex court order had come on various pleas challenging several permissions given to the project by authorities including the grant of environmental clearance and the nod to change of land use

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