SC to First Hear "broad issue" on Central Vista Project

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would first hear the "broad issue" regarding challenge to the change of land use for the ambitious Central Vista project, covering three-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in Lutyens' Delhi. The court said the broad issues raised in the pleas pending before it are -- allegations regarding change of land use, alleged violation of statutory and municipal laws, issues regarding EC and other aspects. "For the sake of convenience, a draft flow chart has been prepared by the office indicating the heads of broad issues in different petitions filed and listed so far for hearing and, in particular, referring to the specific 5 notifications/notices challenged therein," the bench noted in its order. "The parties are free to give suggestions to improve upon or modify the flow chart on the next date of hearing," the top court said and posted the matter for hearing on August 25. The top court had last month allowed filing of a fresh plea challenging the June 17 environment clearance granted to the project for constructing a new Parliament House and other government buildings. The bench is hearing several pleas on the issue, including those filed by activist Rajeev Suri and retired Lt Col Anuj Srivastava against various permissions given to the project by the authorities including the nod to change of land use. The pleas have also challenged the grant of a no-objection certificate by the Central Vista Committee (CVC) and also the environmental clearances for the construction of a new parliament house building. One of the pleas was filed against a Delhi High Court order which had said the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) was not required to apprise it before notifying changes in the Master Plan to allow the Central Vista project.