Central Vista: Plea challenging change in land use dismissed

One-liner: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea challenging the change in land use of a plot where the new official residence of the Vice-President is proposed as part of the ambitious Central Vista project in Lutyens' Delhi.

Policy matter: Everything can be criticised but it should be constructive criticism, the apex court observed and said it was a policy matter and the authority concerned has offered sufficient explanation to justify the change in land use.

Crux of the matter: The bench was hearing a petition challenging the change in land use of plot number one from recreational area to residential.

• As the petitioner's counsel argued that the change in land use of the plot is not in the public interest and they are seeking to only protect the green and open area

New Parliament building: The Central Vista revamp, announced in Sept 2019, envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with a seating capacity of 900 to 1,200 MPs, that is to be constructed by Aug 2022 when the country will celebrate its 75th Independence Day.

• The common Central Secretariat is to be built by 2024 under the project that covers a 3-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in the national capital
• The apex court said even if it is assumed that the plot was used for recreational purposes in the past, is it not open to the authority to make changes that are essential for the holistic development of the area

Apex court view: In Jan this year, the apex court had held that the grant of environmental clearance and the notification for change in land use for construction of new Parliament building under the project was valid.