Public Interest Litigation Exposes Systemic Neglect Amid Monsoon/Rain Hazards.
TFM Report
In a dramatic move underscoring the gravity of infrastructure decay in Manipur, the High Court of Manipur has taken suo motu cognizance of the State’s deteriorating road conditions, registering Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 20/2025) titled “Monitoring of Road Conditions in the State of Manipur.” The action follows a damning report submitted by the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA), revealing widespread neglect and dangerous roadways across both hill and valley districts.
Legal Services Authority Sounds the Alarm
The MASLSA report, compiled from field assessments by District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), paints a grim picture:
- Roads riddled with potholes and erosion
- GPS-tagged evidence of hazardous stretches
- Testimonies from residents, including schoolchildren and legal professionals, injured due to poor road conditions
- Critical access routes to hospitals, courts, and schools were rendered nearly impassable
The report was submitted to the Registrar General of the High Court on August 5, 2025, prompting immediate judicial action.
Right to Safe Roads as a Fundamental Right
The PIL argues that the State’s failure to maintain motorable roads violates Article 21 of the Constitution—the Right to Life and Dignity. It also cites the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Umri Pooph Pratappur Tollways Pvt. Ltd. vs. M.P. Road Development Corporation (Civil Appeal No. 9920 of 2025), which reaffirmed that access to safe roads is a constitutional entitlement under Articles 19(1)(g) and 21.
The Division Bench led by Chief Justice K. Somasekhar and Justice A. Guneshwar Sharma has issued notices to:
- Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur
- Principal Secretary (PWD)
- Principal Secretary (Rural Development & Panchayati Raj)
- Chief Engineer (PWD)
- Chief Engineer, Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency (MSRRDA)
The Court has demanded a list of all agencies responsible for road maintenance to consider further impleadment.
Reliefs Sought: Time-Bound Repairs and Oversight
The PIL seeks a writ of mandamus for urgent repair of critical roads and the formation of a Monitoring Committee or appointment of an Amicus Curiae. It also demanded a status report detailing road inventories, tenders, budgets, and timelines.
With heavy rains exacerbating road damage in the last few months, the PIL highlights the disproportionate impact on children commuting to schools, pregnant women, the elderly/persons with disabilities, daily wage workers, and emergency responders.
A Pattern of Administrative Inertia
This PIL echoes a broader pattern of bureaucratic resistance already seen in the land registration controversy involving the Sub-Registrar (HQ), Imphal. In that case, despite judicial orders and gazetted amendments to the Manipur Regulation of Sale Deed Registration Rules, officials continued enforcing outdated procedures. Legal experts warn that such defiance—whether in infrastructure or land governance—undermines the rule of law and public trust. The High Court has set September 8, 2025, as the return date for the respondents. Citizens, legal observers, and civil society groups are watching closely, hoping this judicial intervention will finally pave the way—literally and figuratively—for safer roads and stronger governance.