HP High Court demands NHAI report on staff actions

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ordered the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to report on actions taken against officials in a case involving the Kiratpur-Manali highway alignment. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan directed the NHAI project director in Mandi to provide details about any disciplinary measures related to an inquiry by the Mandi divisional commissioner. This inquiry identified officials who may have altered the original highway alignment. The court has also asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) to submit the inquiry report within ten days. State PCCF Sameer Rastogi informed the court that actions were taken against two deputy rangers named in the inquiry. Disciplinary proceedings were started against Nand Lal and Ram Parkash under civil service rules, and both were chargesheeted. However, no actions have been taken against six other retired forest officials, as they cannot face disciplinary action for issues that occurred four years after their retirement. The PCCF wrote to NHAI for further information about these officials, as the court seeks clarity on the matter. The case arose from a 2022 petition by Madan Sharma, representing an organization for people affected by highway projects. Sharma accused various officials of allowing improper changes in the highway route to benefit certain landowners. Complaints regarding these deviations had begun surfacing in 2018, leading to the current legal proceedings. The inquiry found that 15 officials from the forest and NHAI were implicated in these allegations.