HC strict on delay in Kalka-Shimla four lane, orders to NHAI

Shimla. The State High Court has taken strict cognizance of the delay in completing the construction work of Kalka-Shimla four lane. The court ordered the project director of NHAI to tell through an affidavit the time line for completing the construction work from Parwanoo to Dhali. The court has also sought information about illegal encroachments and encroachments removed during this period.

The division bench of Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Sandeep Sharma has also ordered the project director of NHAI to submit the latest status report related to the construction. It was told by the National Highway Authority that the encroachments shown in the list between Parwanoo to Kaithlighat have been removed and temporary encroachments are removed from time to time.

It is noteworthy that the court had ordered NHAI to speed up the expansion work of NH-5 and remove illegal encroachments. The court had ordered the Deputy Commissioner and SP Solan to provide proper police assistance to the authority. Under previous orders, the High Court had also commented on the working style of Deputy Commissioner Solan.

The court had said that he was unaware that along with being the Deputy Commissioner, he was also the District Magistrate. He holds the highest post of Revenue Department in his district. The court had also ordered the removal of illegal encroachments, but the Deputy Commissioner had instructed the National Highway Authority to apply for marking. The court had ordered the Deputy Commissioner to provide suitable staff for spotting.

In compliance with the orders of the court, Deputy Commissioner Solan had also marked the four lane. A hearing on the case has been scheduled for March 14. The High Court has rejected the bail petition filed in the State High Court by Councilor Virendra Bindu, the main accused in the much talked about banned drug smuggling case of Gagret town. Not only this, but three more people who had approached the High Court for anticipatory bail in this case have also not got relief from the High Court. State CID’s SIT, which is investigating this case, is also taking rapid action on the demand of Narcotics Bureau Delhi to seal the property of accused Virendra Bindu.