HC reserves verdict on KoPT

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Thursday, after concluding the hearing on the PIL  challenging the notification of the Union Shipping Ministry on the extension of Kolkata Port limits, has reserved its verdict. The division bench comprising Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BN Mohapatra has further directed the counsels for the parties to submit their respective written note of submissions by October 28. The court heard the arguments of Advocate General Ashok Mohanty, Additional Solicitor General of India Parag Tripathy for Central Government, senior counsel for Dhamra Port Ashok Parija, S. Sen for Subarnarekha Port and SK Kapur for KoPT extensively. During the hearing of the writ petition,  Ashok Mohanty stated before the court that the notification issued by the Central Government extending the limits of Kolkata port was in violation of the statutory provisions and, therefore, the same should be quashed. On the other hand, the Additional Solicitor General of India supported the notification to be legal and justified. The counsel appearing for KoPT  stated that the notification was not violative of any law. Earlier the court has passed an interim order of status quo. The PIL has been filed challenging the notification of the Union Shipping Ministry for the proposed alteration of Kolkata Port limits by Kendujhar Naba Nirman Parishad.  The petitioner while challenging November 10, 2010 notification extending the limits of Kolkata Port has alleged that the same would incapacitate the developmental plans of the Orissa Government in boosting its maritime activity. The extension of the jurisdiction of KoPT would affect the upcoming ports of Bichitrapur, Subarnarekha mouth, Bahabalpur, Inchudi, Chandipur, Chudamani and Dhamra ports in the State.Admitting the PIL, the Orissa High Court in its interim order passed on May 5 restrained the Kolkata port authorities and the Centre from taking any action in haste over the proposed alteration of port limit and asked the authorities “not to precipitate the matter.”