The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has sought a report from the State on how the State Highways Department was ensuring the quality of laying of roads, as per the tender documents.
Justice B. Pugalendhi sought to know the number of disciplinary actions taken against the erring officers as per the G.O. issued in 2010 and the nature and details of action taken against the erring first, second and third level officers.
The court also sought to know whether a monitoring mechanism was followed or any G.O. or instructions have been issued in this regard.
The court said thousands of crores had been spent on laying roads. However, there was no proper mechanism to ensure the quality of execution of the works. A G.O. had been issued in 2010 to ensure the quality of the works by fixing responsibility on the officials concerned. However, it appears that there was no implementation of the G.O.. Most of the roads do not even last for two years, the court said.
The court was hearing a petition filed by P. Thavaneethi, a Quality Control Assistant Engineer (Highways) of the Ramanathapuram Division. He was held responsible for the substandard quality of roads laid in six stretches of 198.135 km of State Highways and 360.272 km of major district roads in Sivaganga district. The petition was filed challenging the charge memo issued against him. He said he had been selectively targeted. The court directed the State to file a report and posted the matter for hearing to September 28.
Published – September 24, 2026 09:05 pm IST
