The Division Bench of the Meghalaya High Court, comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice B Bhattacharya in the case of Kynjaimon Amse Vs National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) & Ors has reprimanded the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for its negligence regarding the abysmal condition of National Highway 6 (NH-6).
The petitioner has produced photographs from the NH-6 stretches near Mynkre village, Tongseng village, Sonapyrdi village and Lumshnong village, apparently taken on October 4, 2023, which reveal the abysmal condition of the roads with potholes that are more appropriate to be regarded as craters and with no sign of any blacktopping in the relevant stretches.
The Court considered the submissions of the petitioner and observed that “this is completely unacceptable in a civilised country and it is a shame that the Court has to remind a Central body as the NHAI as to what its duties and responsibilities may be. As it is, the terrain in the State is difficult to negotiate and far flung areas wait for supplies and essentials.”
The National Highways Authority of India has filed a status report dated October 3, 2023 wherein it is indicated that a new contractor has been engaged on September 29, 2023 to undertake repair operations spanning from Sonapur (km 141+500) to Ratacherra (km 171.455).
The Court perused the Status report and expounded that it is hoped that the repair work is completed to make the entire stretch from Jowai to Ratecherra more navigable within the next month or so. Work of more permanent nature should be taken up shortly thereafter.
The Court also instructed the local officials of the State to have reported the matter well in advance to the higher authorities in Shillong for NHAI to be persuaded to ensure that the road was in better condition and not reduced to the pitiable state as evident from the photographs as relied upon by the petitioner.
The Court listed the matter on November 6, 2023 for next hearing.
Case Details
Case:- PIL No. 11 of 2022
Petitioner:- Kynjaimon Amse
Respondent:- National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) & ors
Counsel for the Petitioner - : Mr S. Panthi, Adv
Counsel for the Respondent – Mr S. Sengupta
Judge: Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice B Bhattacharya
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