Supreme Court clears the decks for Central Vista project

Supreme Court has given a go-ahead to the Centre's plan to redevelop Central Vista. The Apex court bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna pronounced the judgement.

In a majority verdict, the Bench noted that there was no infirmity in the approval granted by the Heritage Conservation Committee and the Central Vista Committee.
 

Justice Khanwilkar observed that the exercise of the central government under the DDA Act is legal and valid and the impugned notification stands confirmed. He added that the recommendation by the environmental committee was legal.

Justice Khanwilkar also called upon the Environment Ministry to install smog towers as an integral part of the new parliament building project.
 

Justice Khanna, who gave a separate verdict, observed that he had agreed on the aspect of notice inviting bid, award and order of the urban commission. However, on the aspect of change of land use, he held that the same was initiated as being bad in law.
 

He said, "There was no prior approval from the heritage conservation committee."

The Central government's proposal to redevelop the Central Vista area includes constructing a new Parliament house, a new residential complex that will have the Prime Minister and the Vice President's residences along with several new office buildings and Central Secretariat to accommodates ministry offices.
 

The new Parliament will be built across an area of 64,500 square metres, with a grand Constitution Hall to showcase India's democratic heritage. It will have a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas, and ample parking space.