Law department says NTC did not file RTI

Eastern Mirror: Dimapur: Saturday, September 16, 2017.

Against the allegation of financial misappropriation levelled by the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) who had cited RTI replies from the state government the department of Justice and Law has claimed that there was no record of the NTC filing RTI applications concerning High Court project in Nagaland.

On September 12 last, the NTC had alleged that the department of Justice and Law had made 18 withdrawals amounting to Rs. 52.63 crore against the original estimate of Rs. 43 crore meant for constructions of High Court building in Kohima.

A press release from the department on Friday stated that even the foundation stone of High Court complex was inaugurated by the then Chief Justice of India Justice KG Balakrishnan on 21st May, 2007 and not as claimed by the NTC.

“The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 161.10 Crore as per NPWD SOR’2010 and the department had received sanction amounting to Rs. 57.61 crore and not as reported. With the sanctioned amount the department had executed various works such as road connectivity to the project, site levelling, contour mapping, boundary fencing and retaining wall etc. and construction of the main court building is in progress.”

The project was earmarked during the Plan Sectoral Outlay by the Planning and Co-ordination department under Negotiated Loan (HUDCO) and not as reported, it stated. “The Justice and Law department welcomes the good office of NTC to come and examine the records and urged upon (sic) not to make false allegation without verifying the facts and figures.”