The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken a firm stance against a contractor, Sanjeev Kumar Bhandari, who has failed to complete a majority of the projects awarded to him. In response to a petition filed by Bhandari, the court not only refused to lift the interim order restraining the state government from re-tendering a road project, but it also directed the contractor to provide a detailed timeline for completing the unfinished works.
The Division Bench, comprising Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Satyen Vaidya, expressed deep concern over Bhandari's track record of incomplete projects. Out of the 66 contracts awarded to him, only 12 have been completed, while 25 have not even commenced.
The court criticized the state government for repeatedly awarding projects to Bhandari, despite his history of non-compliance. In response, the court instructed the Principal Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD) to take action against the officials responsible for awarding the contracts to Bhandari.
Emphasizing accountability, the court stated, "The petitioner must not evade responsibility for their unfinished projects." It directed Bhandari to submit an affidavit outlining a clear timeline for completing the pending works, whether they have not yet commenced or are partially completed and not assigned to another contractor.
To ensure the gravity of the situation is recognized, the court has forwarded a copy of its order to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Himachal Pradesh, as well as to the Engineer-in-Chief of HPPWD and I&PH (Irrigation and Public Health Department). This action aims to ensure that relevant authorities are aware of the court's decision and can take appropriate action based on its directives.
The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing on July 13, 2023, during which the respondents are required to provide a fresh status report detailing the progress made in addressing the pending works.
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