Dinesh S/O. Sheshrao Thakre And Another v. Union Of India, Thr. Secretary, Ministry Of Road Transport And Highways, New Delhi And ORS.

910.pil.27.25 1/2

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR Public Interest Litigation No.27 of 2025 Dinesh s/o Sheshrao Thakre and another vs.

Union of India, through its Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New Delhi and others =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Office notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders Court's or Judge's Orders or directions and Registrar's orders.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Mr. M.I. Dhatrak, Advocate for the Petitioners. Mr. S.A. Chaudhari, Advocate for Respondent No.1. Mr. A.A. Kathane, Advocate for Respondent No.2. Mr. N.S. Rao, A.G.P. for Respondent Nos.3 to 7. Mr. A.C. Jaltare, Advocate for Respondent No.8. Mr. A.S. Deshpande, Advocate for Respondent No.9. CORAM : NITIN W. SAMBRE & M.M. NERLIKAR, JJ .

DATE : 9 th JULY, 2025.

01.

Mr. Chaudhari, learned Counsel appearing for the respondent No.1 was directed to take instructions from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New Delhi on the issue of execution of the project, however, he expressed his inability saying that the instructions are still awaited.

02.

The learned Counsel appearing for the N.H.A.I. on instructions submits that the observations recorded in paragraph 7 of the order dated 01/07/2025 are factually correct to the extent that file is cleared by the Environment and Forest Departments. However, according to him, the same is placed before the Project Appraisal and Technical Scrutiny Committee of N.H.A.I. and within two weeks thereafter, the same shall be submitted to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

03.

We are further informed that the project file needs approval

910.pil.27.25 2/2 from the Standing Finance Committee and other authorities. 04.

In that view of the matter, we once again direct the Union of India to look into the matter and expedite the clearance of the project in question. In lieu of the hardship faced by the commuters for want of approval, the project is lagging behind by four years. 05.

Needless to clarify that the incomplete project is making the commuters suffer and is a big contribution in occurrence of road accidents.

06.

As such, we defer the hearing of the present P.I.L. to 31st of July, 2025 with a further request to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to submit their response by the next date, failing which, the Court will be constrained to pass appropriate consequential order in the matter.

(M.M. Nerlikar, J.) (Nitin W. Sambre, J.) *sandesh Signed by: Mr. Sandesh Waghmare Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 11/07/2025 19:02:36