SC suspends LHC verdict declaring Ravi Riverfront Project illegal

SC suspends LHC verdict declaring Ravi Riverfront Project illegal

Pakistan

The apex court has allowed the Punjab government to continue work on the project.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday suspended Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict declaring Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project as illegal.

The apex court has allowed the Punjab government to continue work on the project.

SC remarked that government can continue work on the pieces of land where payments have been made to the owners; however no development work can be done on land where payment is still pending.

Earlier Punjab government had approached Supreme Court against verdict of LHC in Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project case.

The provincial government, in its plea states that all rules and regulations were followed before starting the project. The plea prayed the court to set aside verdict of high court.

It merits mention that the LHC had scrapped Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project of the government by declaring several provisions of the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda) Act 2020 unconstitutional.

Announcing a reserved judgement on multiple petitions, Justice Shahid Karim also declared the acquisition of agricultural land for the project unconstitutional and in violation of the fundamental rights of citizens.