Orissa High Court Slams Officials for Delaying Quarry Permits, Affects Public Works
The Orissa High Court expressed strong concern over bureaucratic delays in government offices. The court pulled up authorities for showing a "reluctant or lethargic attitude" when dealing with quarry permit applications. This inaction directly impacts the execution of public works projects. Ultimately, it affects the general public who depend on these projects.
Court Hearing Details and Petitioner's Plight
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman made these critical observations. They were disposing of a petition filed on January 12. The petitioner was an 'A' class contractor engaged in constructing a stretch of the Kathajodi embankment.
This contractor emerged as the successful bidder for the project. On October 22, 2025, he applied to the mining officer of the Cuttack circle. He sought a six-month quarry permit for ordinary earth. This material was required exclusively for executing the public work.
Despite considerable time passing, no decision was taken on his application. Frustrated by the delay, the petitioner approached the High Court. He sought a direction for the authority to consider and dispose of his application within a fixed timeframe. The petition was affirmed on January 7, 2026. This indicated the application remained unattended until that date.
Government's Last-Minute Response and Judicial Scrutiny
During the court hearing, Additional Government Advocate Debashis Tripathy produced a letter. This letter was dated January 8, 2026, and issued by the mining officer. It called upon the petitioner to submit certain documents for verification. These included original affidavits.
The letter did not specify any deadline for submission. However, the bench remarked that one could "reasonably infer" the authorities activated the process only after sensing the petitioner approached the court. They likely did this to avoid any stringent court order.
The bench took this letter on record. It observed that the time has come to remind authorities of their "solemn duties". They must dispose of public grievances within a reasonable period.
Broader Implications and Court's Directive
The Bench issued a clear warning. Delays in granting quarry permits for public works hamper the timely execution of projects. This ultimately deprives the public of the intended benefits. The judges further observed that the government must introspect and ponder this issue. They need to bring a sense of accountability in how public officers discharge their duties.
The court directed the AGA to hand over a copy of the January 8 letter to the petitioner's counsel the same day. It granted liberty to the contractor to comply with the requisitions expeditiously. The Bench ordered that upon such compliance, the mining officer shall dispose of the application within two weeks. The decision must be communicated without any further delay.
