NEW DELHI, June 2: Despite the Delhi High Court dismissing a Public Interest Litigation with cost permitting the continuation of construction of the Central Vista project, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday challenging the high court’s order.
A Supreme Court Pradeep Kumar Yadav filed the petition appealing to the apex court high court judgement pointing out that it erred in concluding that the workers were staying at the construction site and there was no risk to the citizens of Delhi when the work was in progress amidst the surge in the Coronavirus cases in the national capital.
The petitioner pointed out that while the High Court judgement was based on its believe that the workers stayed at the site whereas they were brought in daily from outside at a time when restrictions were in place on public movement to halt the spread of the virus, which has claimed thousands of lives.
“The High Court failed to appreciate that allowing a big construction work with a huge number of innocent laborers workers to continue during peak COVID-19 Pandemic period is a serious public health issue concern,” Yadav’s petition said.
The special leave petition said the High Court was not justified in holding that the Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project was an essential activity during the peak pandemic crisis
“The High Court was not justified in holding that the workers of Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment project were residing at the site… government and SPCPL in their respective affidavits have clearly stated that the workers of the project were staying at the Sarai Kale Khan camp which is not project site… Movement pass was issued to labourers and supervisors to construction site,” the petition said.
The Delhi High Court in its order last week had found no reason to suspend the construction activities as the workers were “staying at the project site.” It concluded that “COVID-19 protocols are adhered to and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour is being followed.” It imposed ₹1 lakh costs on the petitioners, Anya Malhotra and Sohail Hashmi, for filing a “motivated petition.”
(Manas Dasgupta)