The Orissa High Court has ordered Kolkata Port Trust to maintain status quo on its expansion mode till the disposal of the case or until further orders.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice, Mr V. Gopala Gowda, and Mr Justice B.N. Mohapatra yesterday said that the PIL filed by Keonjhar Nava Nirman Samiti was “maintainable” and ordered the KoPT to maintain status quo on its expansion bid till disposal of the petition.
The case would be heard again on October 17.
The High Court on May 5 had restrained KoPT from going ahead with its proposal to extend the port limits and had asked both the Central Government and the KoPT authorities not to precipitate the matter till consideration of the interim prayer.
Pending responses from the Centre, the HC had reiterated its interim order thrice earlier. In the meantime, the petitioner as well as the Orissa Government alleged that KoPT has shown blatant disregard to Orissa High Court order by setting up a transloading terminal at Kanika islands within the coastal territory of Orissa.
They also demanded initiation of contempt proceedings against KoPT for overreaching the High Court order.