RD Engineer’s office properties auctioned

PHULBANI:  Kandhamal district administration on Thursday auctioned official properties worth Rs 98,562 of the Executive Engineer of Rural Development (RD) Department to pay the pending bills of a construction firm. Acting on an order of the District Judge, Registrar of Civil Court, Phulbani, Abhijit Palei conducted the public auction of furniture of the office on the district court premises.

The articles auctioned include a jeep, one desktop computer system, three almirahs, five chairs and two tables and Rs 98,562 was collected. Of this, the vehicle was auctioned for Rs 71,000 against the base price of Rs 30,000 and the rest of the items fetched Rs 27,562. Advocate of the construction company Manoranjan Mohanty said since the entire demand amount of Rs 3,99,994 was not realised from the auction, further legal steps will be taken in this regard.

On April 5, the District Judge of Kandhamal had started the process for auctioning the office properties of the Executive Engineer for nonpayment of a contractor’s dues. Since it was a rare judgment and the Government properties were auctioned, large number of people participated in the process.