Phek, May 21 (MExN): Endorsing the Phek District Maytas-Gayatri Damaged Victim Association’s (PDMGDVA)' demand to the State Government to file its “self-appealed additional affidavit” in Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, the Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) today appealed the State Government to do so in “order to avert further agitation by the aggrieved Association.”
As per the CPO, it filed public interest litigation (PIL) in the HC, Kohima Bench in December 2019 on behalf of poor victims for justice, which otherwise is overdue.
Since then the matter came before the Court 22 times till May 11; unfortunately, the case nearing 3 years is being “dragged on till date basically because of delay tactics adopted both by State Government and Union of India,” the CPO claimed in a press release issued by its General Secretary, Chepetso Koza and Vice President, Vecito Dozo.
On several occasions, it resulted in public protest, total road blockade and cessation of work on the ongoing two-lanning road construction in the district, causing much inconvenience to the public and developmental activities, it said.
“It was the intervention of both the CPO and State Government that past agitation was pacified one after another and work progress has reached thus far,” it added.
While the Court is being gracious towards repeated appeals made by the State Government to file additional affidavit, it is being “misused” to defer final hearing indefinitely, the CPO further alleged.
“Indifference and irresponsibility cast upon the gravity and urgency of the pending case by the State Government only invite more complicated situation than it can handle on its own, whether socially or monetarily,” it added.
Accordingly, while appealing to the State Government to file the additional affidavit, the CPO cautioned that any further attempt to drag the matter on or defer “final hearing indefinitely will also lead to further consequences and that the State Government shall be held fully responsible.”
It must be noted here that on May 17, the PDMGDVA, in a representation to the Nagaland Chief Secretary has questioned the “repeated failure of the State Government to file additional affidavit” in response to a PIL.
It further informed it would resume intensive agitation in any manner deemed fit after May 25, the next date of hearing, if the State Respondent fails to file the affidavit.
