The Patna High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking direction to the respondent authorities to take appropriate steps to construct a bridge under the PMGSY on road from Sabalpur to Fahimchak in village Kachhuwara.
The PIlL filed by one Devbarat Kumarfurther seeks steps with respect to construction of four small bridges and arrangement of water drainage around the road in Thana no.132 on account of agriculturists being affected and for other reliefs.
It is the case of the petitioner that he is a social worker and has no personal interest in the subject matter of the writ application. It is further submitted that four bridges are required for drainage of water and in case the same are not constructed, water logging will create a number of problems.
On perusal of the material on record, the Division Bench of Chief Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice Partha Sarthy noted that pursuant to a complaint filed by the petitioner on 27.4.2021, he received a reply dated 7.1.2022 from the District Public Grievance Redressal Officer, District Patna which is to the effect that bridges, construction of which is being prayed for by the petitioner, already had to be constructed by the contractor. As the contractor did not construct the same as per the agreement entered by him with the department, he has been debarred and blacklisted. As per the contents of the said reply, a fresh DPR (Detail Project Report) is being prepared for taking steps in the matter.
Having heard counsel for the parties and having perused the material on record, the Bench is of the opinion that the construction of bridge etc. is a matter of policy decision of the State and its authorities. Further, from the reply dated 7.1.2022 of the District Public Grievance Redressal Officer, Patna, the Bench noted that steps have already been taken by the respondents in the matter.