Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 2
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with regard to three road projects in Meluri sub-division will proceed only after appropriate steps have been taken against the former Executive Engineer (EE), R&B, Phek Division, who allegedly issued false ‘completion certificate’ for one of the projects, according to a recent Court order.
During a hearing on January 30, the Bench comprising of Justices LS Jamir and Kakheto Sema asked the Nagaland PWD (R&B) Chief Engineer as to what steps have been taken against the former EE.
The Chief Engineer submitted that ‘no steps have been taken till date,’ and as such, the Bench stated that it intends to “proceed with the PIL only after appropriate steps have been taken against the Executive Engineer/respondent No 11.”
Accordingly, the matter was listed again for February 3, “to enable the Chief Engineer to apprise this Court what steps have been taken against the Executive Engineer.”
Mention may be made that the former EE, now posted under the Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B), was made a respondent by the Court on June 29, 2022, based on the affidavits filed by the Commissioner and Secretary, Work and Housing and the Engineer-In-Chief, NPWD. As per Court records, the PIL was filed on November 10, 2020 on grounds that the contractor for the three road projects which are a part of one stretch of road, had ‘fraudulently’ withdrawn money without completing the works, and in violation of the terms and conditions of the work orders.
Among others, the petitioners of the PIL had alleged that a completion certificate for the first project between Lephori to Molhe Post was issued by the EE in January 2014, though the work was not completed.
