NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the West Bengal government over delays in the construction of the Kolkata Metro project, observing that the conduct of the authorities reflected an "obstinate attitude" to stall a public infrastructure work.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant refused to entertain the state government’s special leave petition (SLP) against a Calcutta High Court order permitting traffic blockades to enable Orange Line metro construction work.
Dismissing the plea, the bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, said there was no infirmity in the Calcutta High Court’s directions and expressed confidence that the project would be completed within a time-bound framework.
"This merely exhibits the obstinate attitude of the authority, wherein they want to delay and stall the metro rail project, " the apex court remarked.
During the hearing, the CJI-led Bench cautioned the West Bengal government against politicising the issue and took exception to its stand that festival arrangements had prevented it from providing necessary support for the project.