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States » NorthPosted at: Apr 5 2025 1:32AM


Himachal HC slams PWD over unpaved road, initiates contempt

Shimla, Apr 4 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Thursday came down heavily on the state Public Works Department (PWD) for failing to fulfill its commitment to pave a crucial road, and ordered contempt proceedings against top officials.
The court found that despite a 2019 assurance to complete the metalling work on the Kelodhar-Siyanj Bagda road by March 2020, the PWD left the project unfinished even after four years.
A bench of Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Sushil Kukreja was hearing a petition by Hem Singh, who sought the widening and paving of the road.
The PWD had earlier submitted a status report claiming the 11-19 km stretch (Naglog-Balidhar) would be completed by the deadline, leading the court to close the case. However, when no progress was made, Singh filed a compliance petition, exposing the department’s inaction.
The court slammed the PWD for "willful disregard" of its orders, noting that officials neither completed the work nor sought an extension.
The contractor was fined Rs 20 lakh for delays, but the penalty was never recovered, and the contract was scrapped in March 2020. Another contractor, assigned the remaining work, also failed, forcing the PWD to cancel the agreement in May 2021.
Despite the court’s intervention, the PWD took no concrete steps till 2024, when the work was finally re-allotted. The High Court has now demanded an affidavit from the PWD explaining who contempt processing should not initiate against them for none compliance of court order..
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Tags: #Himachal HC slams PWD over unpaved road# initiates contempt
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see more..