The Orissa High Court has disposed of a PIL, which was last listed more than eight years ago.
The PIL, filed by Gunanidhi Pani and others, sought directions to the state government not to close a canal by putting earth and not to construct a concrete road over it.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dr. S. Muralidhar and Justice B.P. Routray, while considering the petition on August 2, observed that a counter affidavit was filed way back on July 1, 2013, wherein it was mentioned that the state government constructed the concrete road over the existing katcha road and in that process, possibly the Chaka Nalla may have been blocked. An assurance has been held out that this will be cleared after completion of the road work.
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“It will be open to the petitioners to first ascertain the actual position that must have gone under change in the last eight years and thereafter to make a fresh representation, if the cause of action still survives. After following up on the fresh representation, it will be open to the petitioners to seek appropriate remedies in accordance with law,” the Bench ordered, while disposing the petition, which was last listed on May 10, 2013.