Shimla (Vijyender Sharma)
The High Court of H.P. has issued notices to Center and State Governments over the issue relating to non-implementation of National Urban Livelihoods Mission by the State Government. Court further directed the respondents to file reply/status report within six weeks.A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Dharam chand Chaudhary passed these orders on a petition filed by Smt. Namita Manikatala who has alleged in the petition that national urban mission have been formulated by the center government despite that the same is not been implemented by the State government. Looking into the larger public interest the petitioner approached the High Court with the prayer that the State government be directed to place before the Court, the data as to what amounts were received under various Urban Livelihood Mission in the last ten years and the manner as to what these amounts were utilized. Petitioner also prayed that the State Government may further be directed to immediately take steps for utilization of the funds released by the center government in terms with the conditions of the said mission. The petitioner further demanded form the court that the defaulting officers may be prosecuted for committing misfeasance in public office by imposing exemplary/punitive damages.The petitioner has also quoted the news item published in “Times of India” relating to the above said issue which indicated that Rs. 6,04,45,000/- was released under NULM by the Center Government to the State for the purpose of construction of shelters for homeless people of urban areas but not even a single shelter/house has been constructed out of the funds released by the center.During the course of hearing the court treated this matter as Public Interest Litigation and also impleaded Municipal Corporation, Shimla as party responded. The matter will be listed on 29th October, 2015 for further hearing.