Supreme Court notice to the Center on the claim of Central Vista affecting children’s park

New Delhi | The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Center on a petition challenging a notification for change in land use, seeking its response within three days. The petition also claimed that the Vista area would deprive the residents of Delhi of a large part of the central green space. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told Justice A.M. Khanwilkar that he would seek instructions from the government. He said that since the Prime Minister and the Vice President’s residence is being built there, it will not be possible to have recreational activities in the vicinity.

Justice C.T. After hearing the arguments, Ravikumar said that the further hearing of the matter will now take place on Friday.

The petition, filed by social activist Rajeev Suri, states that the Center had issued a notification on October 28, 2020, with a malafide intention. Notifying the change in land use will deprive the residents of Delhi of the green space in the central vista area, available for social and recreational activity. Suri had earlier challenged the project through advocate Shikhil Suri, citing an illegal change in land use and lack of environment clearance.

It was argued that this notification is against Article 21 (right to life). “Since Plot No. 1 will replace the Children’s Amusement Park and Bus Terminal, it needs a judicial inquiry considering it a violation of statutory laws,” the petition said.

The petition sought directions to the apex court to record the call and quash the relevant notification issued by the Center through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and prevent the damage caused by the demolition of buildings, cutting of trees, excavation of land. Has been.

The Central Vista redevelopment project, which covers a distance of three kilometers from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in Lutyens’ Delhi, will renovate several government buildings, including Parliament House and ministry offices, at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore.

In January this year, the Supreme Court had cleared the way for the Central Vista project by upholding the notification of environmental clearance and change in land use.