SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken serious note of a petition filed by residents of villages Sarteyoela and Balogh in Karsog, District Mandi, alleging severe lack of basic amenities.
The petition, Karam Chand vs. State, highlights the dire living conditions of the villagers, who claim they are deprived of essentials such as proper roads, bridges, electricity (3-phase), health facilities, schools, and a veterinary hospital.
The villagers revealed a shocking detail: children are forced to cross the Sutlej River using precarious spans, risking their lives daily.
The petition underscores the hardships faced by the residents, demanding immediate intervention.
Justice Sandeep Sharma, hearing the case, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Mandi (respondent No. 9) to personally visit the affected villages and submit a detailed report on the situation within one week.
The report, to be submitted as a supplementary affidavit, will form the basis of further court action.
The case has been listed for the next hearing on December 20, 2024.
Meanwhile, the court has also instructed the petitioners to submit English translations of the documents in question within four weeks.
The petition has drawn attention to the persistent neglect of rural infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh, raising questions about the administration’s accountability towards remote villages.
