Queency Jain –
After the Delhi High Court has refused to stop work on the Central Vista Redevelopment Project and imposed fines on the petitioners, an appeal has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the order.
On May 31, the High Court declared the Central Vista project of national importance thereby imposing a fine of Rs. 1 lakh on the petitioners, calling the petition to be motivated in nature.
The Petitioners opposed the order saying that the imposition of fine and refusal to stop the project is clearly against the public at large and the rights of the citizens to challenge the actions of the government thereby targeting the ones who actually raise genuine issues of public health in the Court.
The petitioners also stated that the judgment has not only misconstrued the bonafide intention of the petitioners, but has also violated their right to a reputation for the mere reason of challenging an administrative action.
It was contended that the date on which the petition was filed, the State of Delhi had a positivity rate of 29.74% thereby 353 deaths per day which was directly raising a safety issue for the people and also for the workers involved in the construction.
Though the government submitted that the workers were provided with on-site accommodation, the petitioners argued that the same was provided on 1 May which clearly shows a malafide intention of the government and not prioritizing public health over the project.
The Court ordered that since all the necessary precautions were taken by the government and the project is of national importance, the Court has no reason while exercising powers of Article 226 of the Constitution to stop the project.
After the order of the High Court, the order is now challenged in the Supreme Court.