HC initiates suo motu PIL on poor roadways across state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 11 2025: The High Court of Manipur has taken suo motu cognizance of the deteriorating condition of roads across the state and registered a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) titled "Monitoring of Road Conditions in the State of Manipur" as PIL No 20 of 2025 .

The court acted on the basis of a detailed report submitted by the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA), which revealed widespread and perilous deterioration of road infrastructure, affecting both hill and valley districts.

The matter was initiated at the instance of the Registrar General of the High Court following a state-wide assessment by all District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) .

The assessment was conducted in pursuance of a letter issued on July 15, 2025, by the MASLSA member secretary directing the DLSAs to evaluate the condition of roads in their respective jurisdictions.

The survey focused on pothole-riddled stretches, photographic and GPS-tagged documentation, testimonies from local residents, and accounts of accidents caused by poor road conditions.

The consolidated findings, submitted to the High Court on August 5, identified major hazards on roads leading to hospitals, courts, educational institutions, and markets.

It also noted public outrage over repeated complaints and protests, along with specific incidents of serious injuries, including to schoolchildren and legal professionals, attributed to neglected roadways.

In the PIL, the chief secretary, the principal secretary (PWD), the principal secretary or commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, the chief engineer (PWD), and the chief engineer of the Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency (MSRRDA) have been named as respondents.

The petition asserted that the state's failure to ensure safe and motorable roads amounts to a Violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, encompassing the right to live with dignity and access essential services.

It also cited the recent Supreme Court ruling in Umri Pooph Pratappur (UPP) Tollways Pvt Ltd vs MP Road Development Corporation & Another (Civil Appeal No.9920 of 2025), reaffirming that safe and well-maintained roads form part of the fundamental rights under Articles 19(1) (g) and 21 .

With the ongoing monsoon further worsening road conditions and increasing accident risks, the PIL sought urgent judicial intervention to prevent loss of life, injuries, and economic hardship, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.

The reliefs sought in the PIL include issuance of notices to the respondents, a writ of mandamus directing time-bound repair and maintenance of critical roads, constitution of a monitoring committee or appointment of an amicus curiae for compliance oversight, and submission of a status report from the state detailing road inventories, tenders, budget allocation, and repair timelines.

A division bench comprising chief justice K Somasekhar and Justice A Guneshwar Sharma has issued notices to the respondents through the advocate general of Manipur, returnable by September 8, 2025 .

The court has also directed submission of a list of all authorities and agencies responsible for road repair and maintenance in both hill and valley districts, so that other necessary parties can be added to the case.

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