SC dismisses plea challenging change in land use in Central Vista

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a writ petition which challenged the alleged proposal to change the land use of Plot 1 in the Central Vista area from recreational to residential for the new official residences of Vice President and the Prime Minister.  A bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and C.T. Ravikumar said that unless the petitioner is alleging malafides, the court cannot interfere since it is a matter of policy. The Apex Court also asked the petitioner, how the proposed change is impermissible in law. The petitioner had earlier unsuccessfully challenged the notifications for the Central Vista Project.

Everything can be criticised but it should be constructive criticism, the apex court observed and said it was a policy matter and the authority concerned has offered sufficient explanation to justify the change in land use of the plot. We find no reason to examine the matter further and therefore put a quietus to the entire controversy by dismissing this petition, a bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar said.