HC takes suo motu cognizance of judge’s letter on bamboo centre

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of a letter by its sitting judge on inordinate delay in completion of ‘Bamboo Research and Training Centre’ in Chicholi on Chandrapur-Mul road.
A division bench comprising justices Atul Chandurkar and Mahendra Chandwani appointed PK Mohta as amicus curiae in the case to assist the court. While adjourning the hearing till April 5, the bench directed the registry to supply him all the documents to file a proper petition.
The letter to the Nagpur bench’s administrative judge was written by Justice Avinash Gharote, who had visited the centre on March 5. “I found it very disturbing that though a major portion of the centre constructed by PWD is ready, it has not been handed over to the forest department for training, on account of some discrepancies. This position has been in existence for the last four years. It has been built spending lakhs, but lying unused on account of bickering between two agencies.”
The judge mentioned that major portion like halls, classrooms and chambers were constructed with bamboo. “A portion at the front, near the entrance comprising two halls, had caught fire and reduced to ashes due to their bickering, causing loss of lakhs of rupees to the exchequer,” he said.