The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has directed the authorities concerned to take all possible measures for expeditious completion of work on the 104-km-long Outer Ring Road in Lucknow.
The Division Bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Saurabh Lavania heard a PIL filed by Advocate Moti Lal Yadav.
The practicing lawyer of the High Court has instituted the proceedings of this Public Interest Litigation seeking a direction to the respondents to complete the construction of ‘Outer Ring Road’ in Lucknow in a time-bound manner.
The Court noted, “The petitioner had earlier approached the Court with the similar prayer by instituting Public Interest Litigation.
“A Coordinate Bench of this Court after hearing the petitioner had observed that in the facts and circumstances, the case espoused in Public Interest Litigation Civil was not such where the Court should exercise its discretionary jurisdiction and issue an absolute direction for the completion of the project,” it added.
The Court while disposing of the said petition had expected the authorities that they shall take all possible measures for the completion of construction of the road within some stipulated time.
It has been informed by the petitioner that even after the Court expressed its hope for completion of the construction of the road in question about two years ago, the construction of the road has yet not been completed.
“We can appreciate the concern raised by the petitioner in this petition and timely completion of such a project will go a long way in mitigating the everyday problem of congestion of traffic in the city.
“However, direction being sought by the petitioner, though it appears to be desirable, however, in exercise of our jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, it cannot be issued.
“The reason for us for not entertaining this petition is that any developmental project is to be completed within the resources available with the State authorities and such matters essentially lie in the domain of the Executive,” the Court said.
While reiterating the expectation as already observed in the earlier order of the Court dated November 2, 2020, the Court disposed of the petition with the hope that the authorities concerned shall take appropriate steps so that the road in question was completed as early as possible.