Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has questioned the state government for the delay in completing the construction of the new High Court complex at Meriema, despite the foundation stone being laid in 2007 by the then Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Brijesh Kumar. NTC media cell in a press note pointed out that the foundation stone for three other High Courts in Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura were also laid in the same year (2007) and the courts already established since 2013. However, in the case of Nagaland the work was still yet to be completed, it said.
It further expressed shock that the amount for the construction of the High Court in Nagaland exceeded the estimated cost by Rs. 9.6 crores. As per RTI response, NTC said out of the estimated amount of Rs. 43 cores, the department of Law and Justice had drawn Rs. 41.62 crores during 2009-2014 (5 year period) and for the period from 2015 to 2017 an amount of Rs. 11.25 crores was drawn against the project.
With 18 drawals from 2009 to March 2017, NTC said that the amount summed up to the tune of Rs. 52.63 crores as against the original estimate of Rs. 43 crores. NTC expressed surprise that even after incurring such a huge amount, only 35% work was achieved on the ground. Beside, the department of Law and Justice had also resorted to availing loan from HUDCO for the same project, NTC stated.
The council further said it was perplexed to observe that the legal fraternity chose to remain mute over such questionable developments. NTC maintained that it had raised the issue since the state was deprived of a separate High Court, denying the rightful citizens of their benefits and facilities due to irresponsible behaviour of the people in authority.
In this regard, NTC urged the state government to wake up and take a call to achieve the long awaited objective.
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