The Bombay High Court pressed the Maharashtra government on Friday to find out who was behind the creation of a false record of contempt proceedings involving the Public Works Department (PWD) and a road works contractor.
The contractor, Manaj Tollway Private Limited, is seeking Rs 358 crore from the state government. On November 25, the court was told that the company and the PWD were exploring a settlement option. It scheduled the next hearing for the following month, saying in its order, “By consent Stand Over to 02/12/2019.”
But in affidavits filed this month, three PWD officials said the Bombay High Court directed that consent terms be filed by December 2. The court said on Monday that claims made in the said affidavits were “totally contrary” to the record.
“There is an impression when such averments are made and placed on record, these parties are actually indulging in creating a false record of the court,” Justice GS Kulkarni said. Justice Kulkarni added the deponents should explain who instructed them to make statements unsupported by court records.
The court said it was difficult in the circumstances to show the respondents any “laxity”. The next hearing in this matter is scheduled for March 9.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bombay-hc-prods-maharashtra-government-to-probe-false-statements-by-pwd-officials-1651186-2020-02-29
