Madras High Court directs state to issue guidelines to authorities to ensure road quality
In the event of any lapse, negligence or dereliction of duty, disciplinary proceedings should be initiated against the officials concerned. Further action should be taken against contractors to recover the financial loss caused to the exchequer, the court added.
A bench of justices S M Subramaniam and A D Maria Clete issued the directions on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by C M Raghavan, seeking action against a contractor for allegedly laying a substandard road in Tirunelveli district.
Raghavan also wanted the court to ensure that the road is re-laid by the contractor utilising their funds, in addition to paying a penalty of 10% of the contract value.
During the hearing, the government counsel informed that a new road was already laid during the pendency of the petition. However, the petitioner wanted action to be taken against the contractor.
Hearing both sides, the judges observed that private contractors, in collusion with the government authorities, are laying roads using substandard materials without adhering to the standards established by the government. The competent authorities are bound to conduct inspection while road projects are being implemented, they added.
The state has to issue stern instructions to its officials that in the event of any damage or violation, both the contractor and the inspecting officials should be held responsible and the financial losses assessed should be recovered from all concerned, the judges observed and gave the above directions. The matter was posted on August 8 for reporting compliance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Jharkhand HC orders attachment of Panem Coal Mines' property for ₹118 cr of unpaid royalty
Ranchi, The Jharkhand High Court has directed authorities to initiate immediate attachment proceedings against Panem Coal Mines for non-payment of royalty dues amounting to ₹118 crore. The court issued strong instructions to ensure the execution of the earlier attachment order that had remained unimplemented. A division bench led by Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Friday, also instructed the Superintendent of Police of West Bardhaman district in West Bengal to cooperate with the Jharkhand Police in executing the property attachment. During the hearing, it was revealed that despite a warrant being issued and an attachment order given by the Certificate Officer of Dumka district, no effective action had been taken against Panem Coal Mines. The court expressed concern over the inaction and directed strict compliance. Panem Coal Mines is a joint venture between the Punjab State Electricity Board and a private company based in Kolkata. The company was granted mining leases by the Jharkhand government for operations in Dumka and Pakur districts. However, it is alleged that Panem violated lease terms by mining beyond permissible limits, resulting in a loss of over ₹100 crore to the state exchequer. Following complaints by local residents and civil society organisations, a government investigation was conducted, which confirmed the violations and the consequent revenue loss due to illegal mining activities . Despite these findings, the state government has reportedly not taken any decisive punitive action against the company so far. Advocate Ram Subhag Singh, who filed the PIL, informed the court that the company had failed to provide rehabilitation or basic amenities to the affected villagers. He also raised concerns about environmental degradation in the mining zones and the growing resentment among the local population due to official apathy. The High Court scheduled the next hearing for August 11
News18
2 days ago
- News18
'Entire State Of Himachal Pradesh May Vanish': Supreme Court's Grim Warning Over Ecological Crisis
Last Updated: The court highlighted the broader issue of unsustainable development across the state The Supreme Court issued a stern warning on Friday about the dire environmental situation in Himachal Pradesh. 'The day is not far when the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may vanish," said Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, highlighting the Himalayan state's worsening ecological crisis, aggravated by frequent natural disasters. The strong comments were made during a hearing about environmental protection on Shri Tara Devi Hill in Shimla. The court upheld the Himachal Pradesh government's decision to designate it as a green area, banning further construction. However, the bench used this opportunity to address the broader issue of unsustainable development across the state. Justice Pardiwala said, 'You cannot earn revenue at the cost of the environment," stressing that unchecked and often unscientific construction, hydropower projects, four-lane roads, and extensive deforestation are pushing the delicate Himalayan ecosystem to its limit. The Supreme Court pointed out that 'the situation in the state of Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse", with severe ecological imbalance causing more frequent and intense natural disasters. This year alone, hundreds of lives have been lost and thousands of properties destroyed due to floods and landslides. The court noted that climate change is having a 'visible and alarming impact", with retreating glaciers (such as the significantly shrinking Bara Shigri glacier), changing snowfall patterns, and erratic weather events destabilising slopes and threatening livelihoods dependent on farming, horticulture, and ecotourism. The SC attributed these disasters more to human activities than to nature alone, emphasising that uncontrolled tourism, poor waste management, and the neglect of environmental safeguards in infrastructure projects are major contributing factors. By converting the matter into a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the Supreme Court has indicated its intention to closely monitor the situation, instructing the Himachal Pradesh government to submit a detailed action plan within four weeks. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Supreme Court agrees to hear plea seeking to ban illegal betting apps
The Supreme Court agrees to hear a PIL seeking a ban on illegal betting and online real-money gaming apps, with a focus on protecting Indian youth and enforcing regulatory measures The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea seeking to ban 'illegal' betting and online real-money gaming apps in India. The court has notified the Union government and all states, stating that it would prioritise the matter. The PIL calls for a comprehensive central law to regulate and prohibit betting platforms, claiming that such apps are currently operating in violation of the Public Gambling Act. The plea highlights that the lives of over 300 million Indian youth are at risk due to the unchecked spread of online betting. It also criticises government inaction, arguing that only four out of 29 states have taken any steps to curb these platforms. During the hearing on Friday, the apex court requested the Attorney General and Solicitor General to be present at the next hearing on August 18.
