Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Traffic Management Committee for Cuttack was constituted and directed Cuttack District Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde to appear personally before the court.
The Collector has been asked to remain present at 10.30 am next Saturday and explain why the court’s earlier direction concerning the committee’s composition was not followed.
The issue came up during the hearing of a public interest litigation concerning traffic and other civic problems in Cuttack city. The High Court had earlier directed the district administration to include an officer of the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) rank in the Traffic Management Committee.
However, the reported inclusion of a Tehsildar instead of an ADM-level officer drew the court’s displeasure. The bench questioned the administration over the deviation from its earlier order.
Advocates’ Committee member Bibhuti Bhushan Choudhury said the Collector would provide the court with the necessary details during his appearance.
Traffic congestion and parking problems in Cuttack had earlier been raised by members of the High Court Bar Association. The court had subsequently directed the formation of a committee headed by the Cuttack DCP to address the issues.