HC lambasts irresponsible attitude of central government officials towards pending litigations

KOCHI: Kerala High Court today criticized the Central Government officials for their 'irresponsible' attitude towards litigations pending before the judiciary.

The strictures were issued by a Division Bench,comprising Justices Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Babu Mathew P Joseph while considering a Public Interest Litigation filed by one P T Mathew of Kottayam in 2011 to constitute an expert committee to study the proposal submitted by him regarding acquisition of land for highways at lesser cost.

The Court said that the Ministry of Surface Transport and Ministry of Roads and Highways are respondents in this case.

"It is disgusting to note the sheer irresponsibility of the officials concerned in the ministries in placing material before the court," the bench said.

The Bench added that this is an instance of dereliction of duties and a slow pace attitude in critical litigations pending before the judiciary.

It ordered the ministries concerned to file affidavit on or before November 7 this year, failing which the secretaries shall have to appear in person at their personal expense.