Supreme Court declines to intervene, asks Delhi High Court to consider urgent hearing

New Delhi[India]May 7 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday urged the Delhi High Court to consider the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by petitioner Anya Malhotra seeking a stay on construction work of the Central Vista project in New Delhi amid the ongoing coronavirus cases situation across the country, and asked the high court to pass orders related to the matter.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Vineet Saran and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari today heard the special leave petition (SLP) filed by the petitioner through his counsel Siddharth Luthra.

“As per the plea, the matter involves extreme urgency and dismissed the special leave petition (SLP) filed by the petitioner, Anya Malhotra,” the Supreme Court said while hearing the petition.

Luthra submitted to the Supreme Court that since it is a public health emergency, the matter should be taken up in the Delhi High Court on May 10. Later, the Supreme Court suggested to Luthra that we can request the High Court to take up the matter and hear it on Monday.

Anya Malhotra filed an appeal before the Chief Justice of the India-led court, through senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, for an urgent hearing in the matter.

“At a time when there is a health emergency in the country, how can construction activity continue, and while the workers are in a health camp where the situation is very bad,” the petitioner said.

Luthra told the Supreme Court that the issue was very simple. The bill was passed in January. When it comes to human lives, the government has the right to protect our lives.

“This issue deserves to be considered because the health system is in total disarray,” the lawyer said.

“We are facing a peculiar situation. The High Court has adjourned the matter to May 17, without considering the petition. We are facing a humanitarian crisis,” the petitioner said in a plea.

The Supreme Court today heard the plea and asked the Delhi High Court to consider the petition and pass orders on the matter, saying the matter involved extreme urgency.

“Since there is a public health emergency, let the matter be heard before the Delhi High Court on May 10,” Luthra told the Supreme Court bench.

The Supreme Court suggested to Luthra that we can request the Delhi High Court to take up the matter and hear it on Monday (May 10). (ANI)