Nagpur: Enraged by the insensitivity towards the safety issues raised by concerned citizens after the September 23 floods in Nagpur and delay in strengthening of the Ambazari Lake, the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has summoned the Chief Secretary on Thursday and explain his casual approach in the matter.
The High Court, during the last hearing of the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by citizens, had warned that non-bailable arrest warrants could be issued against the responsible officials if a satisfactory reply was not provided over the delay in the ambitious Ambazari Lake Plan Scheme. The compliance affidavit was placed on record which was sworn by Additional Municipal Commissioner of Nagpur Municipal Corporation Dr Sunil Laxmanraoji Lahane.
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Saturday 09 Nov. 2024
The bench of Justice Abhay Mantri and Justice Nitin Sambre found the compliance report highly unsatisfactory and questioned the authority of Dr Lahane to swear the affidavit on behalf of the Chief Secretary and also the Secretary, Urban Development Department. The HC expressed extreme displeasure of the contents in the affidavit stating “it is also not clear from the contents of the affidavit as to whether the Chief Secretary was sensitive about the issue sought to be canvassed in this PIL.”
The Chief Secretary was required to attend on priority basis as the State Government has not complied with the order dated 21/03/2018 delivered in PIL No.96/2017, the HC said. “This approach of the Chief Secretary depicts his complete insensitivity to the issue involved in this public interest litigation. Even otherwise we see no authorisation given by the Chief Secretary in favour of the Additional Municipal Commissioner to file such affidavit in the matter,” the bench added. The further said, it was left with no other option than to summon the Chief Secretary to remain present before the Court on December 21.
The bench also flagged the casual approach of the respondent in the matter as it noticed lack of compliance of the Court’s order passed on December 6. The matter will now be heard on Thursday at 2.30 pm. The PIL, filed by aggrieved citizens, alleges that the State government and local administration were accountable forthe devastating floods.
The petitioners are seeking compensation of Rs 5 lakh for flood affected families and Rs 10 lakh for affected shopkeepers.
Advocate Tushar Mandlekar, Adv TV Fadnavis, Adv Nishant Tamgadge represented the petitioners. Additional Government Pleader NP Mehta appeared for the State. Adv JB Kasat, Adv GA Kunte represented the other respondents while Sr Adv Anil Mardikar and Adv Ved Deshpande appeared for the Intervenor.
