The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to stay the Central Vista project, estimated to cost Rs 20,000 crore, and which seeks to build a new parliament and other central government offices in Lutyens' zone in central Delhi.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde said, "In COVID-19 times no one is going to do anything. There is no urgency." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said, "A new parliament is being constructed. Why should anyone have a problem?" The plan for the project has been prepared in accordance with India's 75th Independence Day in 2022.

The apex court was hearing a plea, through video conferencing, filed by advocate Rajeev Suri challenging Central Vista redevelopment plan on the ground that there is an illegal change in land use. The petition argued that the government's notification on March 20, which supersedes a public notice issued by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on December 19, 2019, is a subjugation of Rule of Law and judicial protocol as the 2019 notice is under challenge and being heard by the Supreme Court itself.

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