PIL challenges Works secy term extension

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Cuttack: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed with Orissa High Court (HC) challenging the extension of tenure of the Works department secretary, Nalini Kanta Pradhan.
In his petition, Odisha Youth Forum general secretary Uday Kumar Sahoo Tuesday urged the HC to reject the notification of the state government published March 31 extending the term of Pradhan as works secretary.
The Chief Secretary, General Administration (GA) department principal secretary and Works department secretary have been made parties to the case.
The petitioner has informed the HC that Works department has been instrumental in development of the state.
During Pradhan’s tenure as the Works secretary, the state exchequer has spent a huge sum on several projects, including construction or renovation of roads, housing complexes and bridges, in the state.
“However, due to the inordinate delay in completion of several projects, the state government has suffered heavy losses to the tune of crores of rupees. Besides, it is during Pradhan’s tenure that the state witnessed several bridge collapse incidents which claimed many innocent lives,” the petition read.
Observing that under such state of affairs, Pradhan should not further hold his office as the Works secretary, the petitioner urged the court to reject the state government’s notification for extending Pradhan’s tenure.
Notably, the state government’s notification has entitled Pradhan to continue in the position from April 1.