The Manipur High Court on Wednesday closed a Suo Motu PIL with the observation that it is for the Imphal Municipal Corporation to continue to do its work and ensure proper maintenance and upkeep of Bir Tikendrajit Park (BT Park) in public interest.
The case was taken up suo motu on the basis of a report dated June 10, 2018 in an English newspaper that Bir Tikendrajit Park in Imphal set up in memory of the martyrs of the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 was drowning in garbage and had turned into a dumpyard.
In an affidavit dated September 22, 2021 filed by the Deputy Secretary, Municipal Administration, Housing & Urban Development (MAHUD), the Government of Manipur, stated the park was earlier under the supervision of the Planning and Development Authority (PDA) but thereafter, its upkeep was handed over to the Imphal Municipal Corporation during July 2021.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Kh. Nobin Singh noted that the Corporation reported to the Deputy Secretary, MAHUD, Government of Manipur, vide letter dated 27.08.2021, that the park was being maintained well and that regular cleaning was also being undertaken.
On 22.11.2021, upon seeing the letter, the High Court requested Julius Riamei and Irom Denning, Advocates of the High Court, to render assistance by visiting the park and submitting a report as to its present state.
Having undertaken this exercise, the Advocates filed a Report dated 01.12.2021, under the signature of Irom Denning, wherein it was stated that they had visited the park on two occasions and found that it was being maintained well. Colour photographs were also filed demonstrating that the park is now clean and green, and no garbage is being dumped there.
“In the light of the aforestated developments, there is no reason why this matter should be kept pending any longer. It is for the Imphal Municipal Corporation to continue to do its work and ensure proper maintenance and upkeep of this park in public interest,”
-the Court observed.
Before parting with the case, the Court also recorded its appreciation and gratitude to Advocates Julius Riamei and Irom Denning for having spared their time and for putting in unstinting effort to assist the High Court.