The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of a dire civic situation in Bilaspur’s Kasturba Nagar, where 15 families were forced into a state of “house arrest” due to reckless drainage construction work. The court’s intervention came after a February 6, 2025, report in Dainik Bhaskar exposed how municipal negligence turned daily life into a nightmare for residents.
Background
The crisis began when the Bilaspur Municipal Corporation hastily issued a work order for constructing a 70-meter drain in Ward No. 19, just before the Model Code of Conduct for municipal elections came into effect. A contractor began digging trenches but left rubble and debris strewn across the road, blocking access to homes. With no temporary pathways or cleanup efforts, approximately 50 residents from 15 families found themselves stranded.
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Local authorities ignored repeated pleas for help, leaving families trapped for days. The situation drew judicial scrutiny when the court noted the photograph published alongside the news report, depicting a road rendered impassable by construction waste.
A division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal heard the matter (WPPIL No. 27 of 2025). While the State’s counsel, Mr. Y.S. Thakur, shifted responsibility to the Municipal Corporation, the Corporation’s lawyer, Mr. A.S. Kachhwaha, presented photos claiming partial cleanup.
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However, the bench spotted glaring gaps in these claims. Reviewing the evidence, the judges remarked:
“Though some cleaning appears done, a pile of rubble remains at one end. The road is still not fully cleared.”
Unconvinced by the Corporation’s assurances, the court ordered the Bilaspur Municipal Commissioner to submit a personal affidavit detailing steps taken to resolve the crisis. The State authorities were also directed to file their responses.
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Civic Accountability: Why did the Corporation ignore residents’ plight despite clear safety risks?
Election Timing: Was the rushed work order an attempt to bypass the Model Code of Conduct?
Emergency Protocols: Why were no temporary measures implemented to ensure public mobility during construction?
The court emphasized that “people cannot be left under house arrest due to civic indifference”, stressing the State’s duty to protect citizens’ right to movement.
The matter is listed for further hearing on February 24, 2025.
