LHC order on Ravi project challenged in SC

The PTI-led Punjab government on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court seeking the suspension of the Lahore High Court’s on January 25 order, which declared had the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project (RRUDP) as illegal and ‘unconstitutional’.

A division bench of the SC, led by Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, will take up matter today (Thursday).

Earlier, the Supreme Court withdrew its interim order for the restoration of the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA).

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Ahsan, heard the case pertaining to the Punjab government’s appeal against the interim order of the LHC to suspend RUDA.

During the hearing, the court ruled that the LHC had given a final verdict in the RUDA case, but the Punjab government could still challenge the decision before the SC.

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The apex court further stated that under the law, an interim order had been incorporated in the verdict. “Appeals against the interim order have become ineffective after the final judgment,” the SC order read.

The lawyer representing RUDA sought two weeks from the SC to review the high court order. To this, Justice Ahsan remarked that the high court had already given its verdict and there was no point in prolonging appeals.

“If you want to raise legal issues, raise them in an appeal against the decision,” he added.