HC tells Centre to certify GQ security

Not satisfied with the Bihar Government’s assertion that ‘‘foolproof’’ security had been provided to those working ...

Not satisfied with the Bihar Government’s assertion that ‘‘foolproof’’ security had been provided to those working on the Golden Quadrilateral National Highway project, the Patna High Court today directed the Centre to certify if it was facing any ‘‘law and order problem’’ in the execution of the Prime Minister’s dream project in the State.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by advocate M P Gupta alleging that the killing of NHAI project manager Satyendra Kumar Dubey last November and prevailing ‘‘bad law and order situation in the state’’ put the ambitious project in jeopardy. The petition had sought adequate protection for the personnel working on the project and a CBI inquiry into Dubey’s murder.

Hearing the matter, a Division Bench directed the Secretaries of Union Home Ministry and Surface Transport Ministry to file an affidavit in two weeks’ time on whether work on the project was progressing smoothly in Bihar. ‘‘If the Central Government is not facing any law and order problem then it is all right. Otherwise we will come back to you,’’ the Bench said.

Story continues below this ad

State Chief Secretary K A H Subramanian, Inspector General of Police, Patna, A C Verma and district magistrates and SPs of the four districts of Gaya, Aurangabad, Kaimur and Rohtas were present in the court during the hearing.

Following an earlier directive from the Patna HC, the state government had submitted before it a plan for providing security for the men involved in the construction of highways in the state. Today, the state government assured the court that the security arrangement for all involved in the construction of the highway was foolproof. The court is scheduled to again hear the matter on February 4.