SC TO HEAR GOVT’S CHAR DHAM ROAD PLEA TOMORROW

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday showed urgency to decide the fate of the Char Dham road expansion project after the Centre cited “national security” concerns to complete the project involving three strategic roads leading to the international border with China.

A vacation bench of justices Vineet Saran and Dinesh Maheshwari agreed to hear the matter on Thursday.

The Centre came prepared to argue the case on Tuesday but a request for adjournment was moved by NGO Citizens for Green Doon, which has opposed the road expansion by raising environmental concerns.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the adjournment, saying: “This is a question of national security.” The court said, “It’s about the border roads... We will hear it (on Thursday).”