CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday issued notice to the central government through ministry of home affairs (MHA) and the secretary, department of road transport and highways on a plea against the digging of roads and national highways by Delhi police in view of the ongoing farmers protest. The Haryana government and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) have also been asked to file its reply on the issue.
Justice G S Sandhawalia of the HC has issued the notice while hearing a petition filed by Ravinder Singh Bassi, former president of district bar association Chandigarh.
The counsel for the petitioner contended that the National Highways cannot be blocked while referring to the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956, which has caused a lot of inconvenience to the general public.
The petitioner has sought directions to the MHA and the department of road transport and highways to open the national Highways which are blocked/obstructed by the Delhi police on the directions of MHA and to take action against the persons who had dig out the national highways and other roads and have intentionally blocked by putting nails and other ironic allied items and barricades.
Further directions have also been sought to remove all the obstacles being created by Delhi police and order a judicial probe into the construction of such obstacles/barricading from a retired high court judge for fair disposal.
The matter would now come up for further hearing on March 15.