NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a ‘motivated’ plea filed to stall the construction of Central Vista project which is of national importance. Moreover, the petitioner- Sohail Hashmi was also fined Rs 1 lakh by the bench for filing a plea that was ‘not genuine’.
In the joint plea by Anya Malhotra, a translator, and Sohail Hashmi, a historian and documentary filmmaker, the petitioners had contended that the project was not an essential activity and can be put on hold for time being.
During the May 17 hearing, the Centre had termed the plea as a “facade” or a “disguise”, aimed at stalling the project.
The court further allowed Central Vista construction to continue, saying it was a “vital and essential” national project.
A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh dismissed the plea saying the petition was “motivated” and “not a genuine PIL”. The bench imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioners.
The court said under the contract awarded to the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, work had to be completed by November 2021 and, therefore, it should be allowed to continue.
The legality of the project was already upheld by the Supreme Court, said the Delhi HC.