By - Moa Jamir
The June 25 proceedings of the Gauhati High Court’s Kohima Bench in the ongoing suo motu Public Interest Litigations (PIL) concerning two national highway projects in Nagaland underscore a troubling lack of accountability from concerned authorities. What is more unsettling is the apparent indifference and administrative inertia of the Nagaland State Government, whose routine assurances have failed to translate into concrete action.
At the core lies not just delayed infrastructure but what seems to be a deeper malaise of systemic dependence on judicial intervention, a pattern of offering excuses, and a business-as-usual attitude that undermines public interest. The difficult terrain and natural factors are often used as convenient scapegoats, but such alibis cannot mask the chronic administrative failures. These delays have consequences—both in terms of public safety and wasted public resources.
The Court’s oral directive on June 25, asking the Commissioner of Nagaland to submit an affidavit within two weeks on the status of land acquisition at Pagla Pahar (Tsiedukhru Range), is merely the latest of several judicial prods meant to awaken a lethargic administration. The sharp observation by the Amicus Curiae that the Commissioner and the State Government are "sleeping away" on the erosion issue caused by the Chathe River resonates with the frustrations of many observers.
It is telling that the first such erosion was reported as early as September 2024. Yet, even after spot verification and a land acquisition proposal submitted in February 2025, no action has been taken. Despite the Court’s directions in April, the State Government has failed to respond meaningfully. Compounding the irony is that the disputed land reportedly belongs to the State’s own Tourism Department. If this is the case, then it is neither a legal nor logistical challenge—it is simply administrative apathy.
The Additional Advocate General (AAG) of Nagaland sought to shift responsibility to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), but the issue reflects poorly on the State Government’s inability, or perhaps or unwillingness to act. This is not an isolated incident. In the same hearing, the Court questioned the issuance of a completion certificate for the Jotsoma–Lerie stretch, which was reportedly impassable. The Court's directive for the concerned departments to submit affidavits detailing fund utilisation and maintenance plans is both timely and necessary.
Elsewhere, similar patterns are visible. For example, the delay in constructing a Bailey Steel Bridge near Peducha or reports of “disturbances” and labour shortages, which suggest a failure to pre-empt and manage known challenges.
In the PIL concerning NH-2, the Amicus Curiae made comparable observations, blaming the NHIDCL and MoRTH for ignoring land acquisition guidelines. After the total collapse of a section of the highway, the Court had issued directions in early June. Yet, when the matter was revisited on June 25, no perceptible progress had been made.
The four-laning of NH-29, connecting Dimapur to Kohima, remains unfinished more than two decades after it was first announced and eight years since the works were awarded. Still , Package-III, which has an extended deadline of September 30, has only achieved around 62% physical progress. For NH-2, the extended deadline of May 31 has already passed, and with mounting challenges and apathy from various agencies, its completion remains uncertain.
The judiciary has commendably tried to hold the system accountable. However, governance cannot be outsourced to the courts. The onus lies with political leaders and administrative heads to act with sincerity and urgency. The time to wake up from this bureaucratic and administrative reverie is now. Blaming nature and passing the buck between departments is no longer acceptable as natural challenges have always existed. Given the scale and importance of these projects, the State Government must act decisively. Continued silence and inaction at this stage amount to a dereliction of constitutional duty.
For any feedback, drop a line to jamir.moa@gmail.com
