DIMAPUR, AUGUST 10: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed at the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court against the failure to complete the construction of Longleng District Jail, 15 years after the first work order was issued.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) informed that the PIL was filed through the assistance of its Panel Lawyer.
The petitioners were seeking an “appropriate order” from the Court directing the respondents ~ which include Nagaland Government and the contractors ~ to complete the construction of Longleng District Jail for which work orders were issued in 2006, and to constitute an enquiry committee under the supervision of the Court to investigate the utilisation or mis-utilisation of funds sanctioned for the project.
(Cont’d on Page 12)
PIL filed against non-completion of Longleng Dist Jail construction
(Cont’d from Page 1)
In the PIL, the petitioners submitted that since February 2, 2006, more than 20 work orders have been awarded to 2 private parties by the State Government for construction of Longleng District Jail; and despite enormous amount of public money, running into crores of rupees, being withdrawn for the project, till date, the construction has not been completed.
This has resulted in violation of prisoners’ rights, denial of speedy trial and various inconveniences to the justice delivery system, the petitioners stated, adding that representation was made to the parties, but it yielded only empty assurances.
“Mentioned may be made that Longleng District is the only district in the State that does not have a Jail till date, for which Under Trail Prisoners (UTPs) and convicts are lodged in at Mokokchung District Jail, which takes 2 to 3 hours to traverse between the district headquarters”, stated the press release.
A Division Bench of the Court consisting of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice S Hukato Swu first heard the matter on August 4 and listed it again after 5 weeks, it informed.
In the interim, the respondents have been asked to take cognizance of the notice.
(Page News Service)
