Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 21 November 2022
One of the Judges of the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court on duty in the present Circuit at Port Blair recently visited North and Middle Andaman District. Upon his return, the court took Suo Moto Cognisance of the almost non-existent National Highway 4 (NH-4) in the North and Middle Andaman District.
The court issued notices to ten authorities including the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Secretary, MoRTH, GoI, Chief Secretary, A & N Administration etc.
All ten noticees have been directed to respond through their Learned Counsel on the next date.
The court also appointed Learned Advocates, Mr. Gopala Binnu Kumar and Mr. Deep Chaim Kabir, to act as the Special Officers.
Learned Counsel appearing for the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has also been directed to take instructions.
The noticees have been directed to file a First Report on Thursday, i.e. 24th of November, 2022 and the court mentioned that on the date the matter will appear at the top under the heading “Fixed”.
The court mentioned that in the experience of the people the National Highway-4 from Middle Strait to Mayabunder and beyond to Diglipur is almost non-existent and even the court found out, that there is no visible road surface for most of the route.
The court in its order also mentioned that people are struggling to carry patients for treatment by ambulance or any other vehicular means for emergency treatment at Port Blair. Goods vehicles were found toppled on dirt tracks and some regular bus services have been suspended in the route.
The court also mentioned that the pathetic condition of NH-4 in the North and Middle Andaman District has not been attended in the past few months, if not years. The condition of NH-4 has worsened in the last three years.
The court also mentioned in its order that despite local efforts, no visible action has been taken till date. It takes double the amount of time (09 Hours) to reach Mayabunder from Port Blair (275 Km) and over four hours to reach Diglipur from Mayabunder (80 Km).
The Court in the order mentioned that ‘This Court cannot remain a passive spectator to such administrative inaction.’
Many residents of the Islands have hailed the Hon’ble Court for taking Suo Moto Cognisance of the issue, which despite the huge outcry has only fallen on deaf ears of the administrative officials.