Advocate General Anup Rattan has called for the creation of a robust, structured mechanism to efficiently manage legal cases involving the Public Works Department (PWD). Speaking at the valedictory session of a day-long workshop organized by the department, he emphasized the importance of proactive legal preparedness in the face of rising litigation.
Addressing senior officials and legal representatives, Rattan underscored the need for centralized preparation of legal replies and court submissions at the headquarters level, to ensure uniformity, accuracy, and effectiveness in legal representation. “Sound legal backing is critical to uphold departmental decisions in judicial scrutiny,” he said.
With a growing number of land acquisition-related cases, the Advocate General stressed that PWD engineers must familiarize themselves with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act and other relevant legislation. He advocated for closer coordination between legal and technical teams within the department to manage complex legal challenges effectively.
“The legal awareness of citizens is rising, and so is litigation. In this context, an efficient institutional response is not a choice but a necessity,” Rattan remarked.
He emphasized that all departmental actions should pass through rigorous legal scrutiny to avoid potential challenges in court. Legal consistency, he noted, would not only reduce litigation but also boost public trust in governance.
During the ceremony, participation certificates were distributed to attendees.
Surinder Pal Jagota, Chief Engineer (Projects), delivered the vote of thanks.
The session was attended by Principal Secretary (Law) Sharad Kumar Lagwal, Secretary PWD Dr. Abhishek Jain, Special Secretary Harbans Singh Brascon, Retired Principal Secretary (Law) J.N. Barowalia, and District Attorney (HPPWD) Jagdish Rajta, among other senior officials.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
