LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Sept 22: A Division bench of Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad on Thursday directed the district collector of Katihar and Deputy Commissioner of Sahibganj for their personal appearance on October 18 for not complying with the court order.
The court has sought to know from Katihar DM Udayan Mishra and Sahibganj DC Ramnivas Yadav whether or not they are liable for contempt of court. In October last year, the division bench passed an order allowing Prakash Chandra Yadav to operate his cargo ship on the river Ganga.
The petitioner further alleged that despite the court order he was not allowed to operate on a different alibi. The petitioner alleged the district administration of working under influence of Pankaj Mishra who is Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s representative.
The Division bench passed the order while hearing the petition of Prakash Chandra Yadav who is the proprietor of the Jai Bajrang Walee Stone Works.
He had filed a petition as the operation of his cargo ship was not allowed in the river Ganga between Samda Ghat (Sahibganj, Jharkhand) and Manihari Ghat (Katihar, Bihar) by the concerned district administrations despite he had Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) operation permission from Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
IWAI stated that the operation of vessels by the petitioner would be carried out as per the provisions of the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985, National Waterways Act, 2016, the Inland Vessels Act, 1917 as also the applicable laws of the Government of India. Besides, the Commissioner of Santhal Pargana Division had also given the direction that the petitioner could ferry any number of its vessels/Ro-Ro vessels/barges owned by it or under a valid agreement.
The petitioner said that despite such categorical and unambiguous order, the district administration of Sahibganj and Katihar did not allow the petitioner to operate the cargo ship. And when the Jharkhand High Court passed an order in his favour both district administrations created hurdles hence he is unable to operate and his business is affected. The petitioner was represented by former IAS turned advocate Vimal Kirti Singh.
