By A Staff Reporter
IMPHAL | Aug 11
The divisional bench of the High Court of Manipur, comprising of acting chief justice, N. Kotiswar Singh and justice Kh. Nobin Singh are going inspect work being executed on the National Highway-37 tomorrow.
The proposed inspection tour of the Highway was in response to the PIL filed by Rajkumar Joysana Singh against the Union of India and nine others, on frequent economic blockade imposed along the National Highways.
Acting on the PIL the bench earlier, asked the respondents to repair the National Highways in addition to declaring imposition of blockades or bandhs on Highways as illegal, to ensure free passengers of supply trucks.
The hearing of the PIL continued today, wherein the respective counsels for the state respondents as well as for the Union produced certain reports about the progress of work for maintenance of both the highways of the state.
The divisional bench from the submission observed that the progress of the repairing work is slow owing to rain.
In an affidavit submitted by the state government, it stated that state government has requested the Centre to release Rs. 13.64 crores for repairing the NH-2 in terms of order passed by the court but the ministry has expressed their inability to enhance allocation of funder under O.R.
The counsel of the Union requested before the court to give more time to take necessary and specific instructions in this regards to whether the ministry has declined the additional fund requested by the state government.
Considering the submission made both the counsels, the division bench has decided to make an inspection of the work being executed in Highway-37 tomorrow. Some of the counsels have also volunteered to join in the said inspection.