The Delhi High Court on Wednesday declined to mandate the construction of a foot-over bridge (FOB) at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre in Delhi Cantonment, which was proposed to facilitate both Indian Army personnel and civilians. The bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gerela, directed the relevant authorities to evaluate the necessity and feasibility of the project instead of issuing any judicial orders.
The petition, initiated by the NGO Centre for Youth Culture Law & Environment and represented by Advocates Paras Tyagi and Aditya Tanwar, argued that the construction of the FOB had been unduly delayed. The NGO claimed that despite expert recommendations affirming the bridge’s necessity, the project had not progressed due to various bureaucratic, political, and societal hurdles.
The lack of action, as argued by the petitioners, has left soldiers, their families, and local civilians to face significant hardships. The petition specifically noted that the Indian Army could not undertake the bridge’s construction on its own due to issues surrounding land ownership. It accused the responsible statutory bodies of neglecting their duties since 2010, amounting to a disregard for the rule of law and contempt of court.
Highlighting the severe inconvenience and indignity caused by the prolonged inaction, the petitioners pressed for a strategic policy to expedite public welfare projects that benefit both military and civilian populations, especially in strategic areas like the Delhi Cantonment.
