Madras HC Seeks Report on Road Quality Control and Accountability Mechanism

The Madurai Bench of the Hon’ble Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Highways and Minor Ports Department to submit a detailed report explaining the mechanism adopted to ensure the quality of road works and the action taken against officials responsible for substandard construction. The directions were issued while hearing a petition filed by a Quality Control Assistant Engineer challenging disciplinary proceedings concerning road works in Sivaganga district.

The proceedings relate to six stretches of State Highways covering approximately 198.135 km and major district roads covering approximately 360.272 km in Sivaganga district. The petitioner had challenged a charge memo issued in June 2026 in connection with allegations concerning the quality of these road works.

The petitioner relied on Government Order G.O.Ms.No.323, Highways and Minor Ports Department, dated December 24, 2010, which establishes a three-level framework for fixing responsibility for lapses in road execution. Under the framework, responsibility is distributed among field-level officers at the first level, Quality Control officers at the second level and supervising officers at the third level.

The Hon’ble Court sought details of disciplinary action taken against officers at all three levels during the preceding five years, including the action taken in relation to the road works forming the subject matter of the proceedings. The Court noted that the status report submitted by the Department did not adequately address the clarifications previously sought and contained insufficient details regarding action against the concerned officers.

The Hon’ble Court has specifically directed the State to explain how the Highways Department ensures that road works comply with the quality requirements contained in tender documents and whether the monitoring mechanism prescribed under the 2010 Government Order continues to be implemented. The Department has also been asked to provide details of any subsequent Government Orders or instructions governing quality control and accountability.

The Court also sought an explanation as to why the complete text of G.O.Ms.No.323 was not available on the Department’s website and directed the Department to provide details regarding its implementation.

The proceedings also refer to subsequent departmental instructions issued in August 2025 under which executing engineers were made responsible for execution, inspection and maintenance of works, with provision for departmental proceedings in cases involving lapses, negligence or dereliction of duty resulting in substandard work. The Court has sought clarification on whether these instructions were implemented in the present matter.

The matter was posted to September 28, 2026 for the Department’s report.