HC notice over hanging boulders along road

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, August 24

The HP High Court today issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Forest), Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, and Engineer-in-Chief, PWD, in a matter pertaining to threat from cracked hanging boulders near the Navabahar-Sanjauli road.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Sandeep Sharma passed these orders on a petition taken up suo motu by the court on a letter written to the Chief Justice by Ranvijay Singh, a resident of New Dhalli, Shilmla.

The petitioner has written to the Chief Justice with the request to issue necessary directions to the PWD for cutting or trimming of hanging cracked rock boulders along roadside for averting accidents in public interest.

The petitioner has mentioned in the petition that there were big rock boulders which were hanging on the road near Navbhar on the Sanjauli-Shimla road. He further pointed out that these rocks had developed big cracks and could fall anytime, particularly in the rainy season. The said location is near to Convent of Jesus & Mary School and St Beads College.

The court also sought response from the state government and directed the authorities to take steps in this matter.