The Himachal Pradesh High Court has intervened in a significant legal matter concerning the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), directing the authority to provide a detailed report on unauthorized deviations observed in the alignment of the Kiratpur-Manali highway during its widening process. The court, led by Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao and Justice Satyen Vaidya, expressed concern over the deviations occurring without requisite approvals from either the state or central government.
The directive follows a petition filed by Madan Sharma, General Secretary of the Fourlane Visthapit and Prabahavit Samiti (FVPS), an organization advocating for individuals displaced by highway projects. Sharma alleged that officials from various departments, including revenue, forest, and NHAI, facilitated changes in road alignments to benefit specific landowners along the highway route. Initially raised in 2018 by FVPS complaints to the Bilaspur district administration, the issue gained traction when the forest department initiated inquiries into the matter. Recently, the forest department submitted a report outlining proposed actions against implicated officials, following an inquiry conducted by the divisional forest officer of Bilaspur.
In 2022, the high court was informed that 15 officials, comprising 13 forest officials and two NHAI officials, were implicated in inquiries investigating the alleged deviations from approved layout plans. The Mandi divisional commissioner also conducted a separate inquiry, submitting findings to the state government in September last year.
The legal proceedings underscore a broader concern over procedural integrity and regulatory compliance in infrastructure projects, particularly those involving public resources and environmental impact. The court’s scrutiny aims to ensure accountability and transparency in the execution of highway development initiatives, emphasizing adherence to prescribed norms and safeguarding public interest.
Responding to the court’s directive, NHAI is expected to furnish a comprehensive status report elucidating the circumstances surrounding the deviations and providing clarity on the actions taken to rectify the situation. The outcome of these legal proceedings is poised to have implications for future infrastructure projects across Himachal Pradesh, underscoring the imperative of rigorous oversight and regulatory diligence in public sector undertakings.
The judicial intervention serves as a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse on governance and infrastructure development, highlighting the necessity for robust regulatory frameworks and adherence to due process in safeguarding public trust and project efficacy.
“The NHAI has not filed a status report even after two-and-half months of the court order. We deprecate this attitude of the NHAI in not filing a status report as directed by us in the order on April 1, 2024,” the HC noted.
