Central Vista: Delhi HC stays order directing DDA to approach Court before notifying proposed changes

The Delhi High Court has stayed its Single Judge Bench's order directing the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to approach the Court before notifying the proposed land-use changes in the city's Central Vista. (UOI vs Rajeev Suri).The ex-parte interim order was passed by a Division Bench of the Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar in an appeal preferred by the Union of India and the DDA. .Central Vista redevelopment: Delhi HC directs DDA to approach Court before notifying proposed changes.While issuing notice in the appeal, the Court ordered, .In the meanwhile, as an ex parte ad interim order, the operation, implementation and execution of the order dated 11th February, 2020 passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.(C) No.1568/2020 and W.P.(C) No.1575/2020, to the extent the direction issued in paragraph 20 is concerned, shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing.Delhi High Court.The Single Judge Bench order was passed in two petitions concerning the re-development of Central Vista..While one petition (Rajeev Suri v. DDA & Ors.) assailed the Public Notice inviting objections against the change of land use of several plots of land in Central Vista, the other petition (LT. COL Anuj Srivastava (Retd.) and Ors v. DDA & Ors.) challenged the public hearing which was held subsequently..It was contended that the notice inviting comments/objections for the change of land use of several plots of land in Central Vista was not in conformity with the Master Plan Delhi 2021 as well as other relevant laws..Concerns of “ill-conceived land use changes” were also raised. .The other petition had asserted that the public hearing was conducted in a mechanical manner which demonstrated complete non-application of mind. .In the appeal filed before the High Court, the Central Government has contended that the contentions of environmental damage, public space etc were misconceived. .The Centre has contended that the proposed changes do not effect the character of the plan or land uses or the standards of population density or the Heritage Building. It is asserted that the changes propsoed fall within the DDA's right to modify the Master Plan for Delhi -2021 and Zonal Development Plan under Section 11A(1) of the Delhi Development Act, 1957..The matter would be heard next on May 6. .Centre was represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta with ASG Maninder Acharya and Standing Counsel Vikas Mahajan. Senior Advocate Ajay Verma and Additional Standing Counsel GS Oberoi represented DDA..Read the Order: