Written by: Ayushi Arya (Intern)
Edited by: Anubhav Yadav (Content Head & Developer)
A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court by Anya Malhotra and Sohail Hashmi requesting for the suspension of construction activity at Central Vista Development Project i.e., construction of a new Parliament House.
BACKGROUND
The petitioner claimed that the construction of the above-stated project is the threat to the lives of the citizens of Delhi. Working on this project during the pandemic is the super spreader of virus and violation of the orders given by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority. DDMA ordered to stop all the construction going on in the national capital.
In the plea, the petitioner questioned the decision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi that why or how the project amounted to an “essential service” just because of a contractual deadline.
The main reason of the petition is to request to stop the back and forth movement of workers by buses from Sarai Kale Khan, Karol Bagh, Kirti Nagar and other areas throughout Delhi to the site of the construction in the peak phase of the pandemic when the territory is facing the health crisis.
The petitioner also mentioned that their intention is not to challenge the Supreme Court judgment of three judge bench, given its consent to the project on January 5. On 4 th May, in the Delhi High Court a bench headed by Chief Justice DN Patel said that the judgement of the Supreme Court previously given on this project before it hears the matter. The High Court adjourned the hearing on May 17 and encouraged the petitioners to approach the Supreme Court.
On Wednesday 5 th May, the counsel on the behalf of the petitioners senior adv. Sidharth Luthra, pleaded to Chief Justice of India NV Ramana that movement of labourers at the peak of COVID-19 pandemic will create havoc on the healthcare system. He also said that delay in hearing of this urgent matter of public health emergency would cause defeat of this petition. After hearing the plea of the counsel, CJI Ramana suggested that the matter should be appeared before the High Court itself but the counsel said that it had already happened. He said that the Additional Solicitor General of India agreed for hearing the matter on 10 th May but the High Court bench said that the bench needed time to study the judgment of the Supreme Court and adjourned the hearing for 17 th May.
On the whole matter, CJI Ramana stated that in these difficult times Judges are not available and he cannot force the judges to hear the matters CJI said that he also had an infection and he is not able to read the papers. But CJI assured the petitioner by asking the counsel who appears on the behalf of petitioner to circulate the papers, if a bench will