"If the government does not want it, can it be forced to retain it?" Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva said to the lawyer for the building's architect Raj Rewal who has also moved court to protect the structure from demolition.
The court refused to pass any interim orders staying demolition of the building as sought by the architect nor did it clarify that there was no stay on demolition as sought by ITPO.
The court said it will not pass any such order, but observed that it has not issued any interim direction in the matter.
On the architect's plea to stay the demolition of the Hall of Nations, the court said it can only ask the government to look into whether the structure ought to be protected, but such an exercise has already been carried out by the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC), a statutory body, which has decided not to protect the building.
Also Read
proposed demolition, saying the Rs 2,500-crore project would be a good development for the city.
Batting for demolition of the buildings in Pragati Maidan, it had submitted that the project was approved at the highest levels, including the PMO.
It had said under the project, an international exhibition and convention centre with a seating capacity of 7,000 and parking for 4,800-5,000 cars would be built in the 123 acres where Pragati Maidan exists and once it comes up the G20 Summit would be held there.