Katni Collector leases road to contractor for ₹300 annual rent:Blocked road affects daily commuters; HC to hear case today after villagers’ protests

Villagers in Barhi tehsil, Katni district, have been left stranded after a road connecting three villages was blocked by gravel dumped by a contractor leasing the route from the Katni Collector. Despite repeated requests to the Collector to reopen the road, no action was taken, prompting the villagers to file a public interest litigation. The Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the district administration to clear the road, but the administration failed to comply. As a result, the court has now issued strict notices to the state government, Katni Collector Ashish Tiwari, and contractor Tilakraj Grover, summoning them to appear personally and respond today, November 10. Road leased for dumping blocks villagers’ access in Katni The only road connecting Karondi Khurd, Kannor, and Bichpura villages in Barhi tehsil, Katni district-used daily by hundreds of villagers commuting to the tehsil and city-has been blocked after being leased for dumping. On July 1 2025, based on a report from the Mineral Department, the Katni Collector leased approximately 65 hectares of land at survey number 861 in Kannor village to contractor Tilakraj Grover, who is required to pay just Rs 300 in annual rent. The road, long used by locals as an unpaved passage and recorded as a pathway in revenue records, is now being used for dumping after mining operations. Villagers allege that the administration arbitrarily attempted to convert this vital road into a dumping site, obstructing daily movement. Despite submitting a written complaint to the Collector, no action was taken, forcing the affected parties to approach the court for relief. Petitioner submits photos as road closure case continues Katni resident Sandeep Jaiswal filed a petition in the High Court on 16 September regarding the closure of a vital road. The case was first heard on September 27, when the court asked the petitioner to submit photographs showing the location of the blockage. During the next hearing on October 13, after reviewing the photos, the court directed the district administration to reopen the road. Despite this order, the administration failed to act, leading the petitioner to file a contempt petition on November 4. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf conducted the hearing. Senior advocate Arpan J. Pawar, along with advocates Akshat Arjariya and Chiranjivi Sharma representing the petitioner, told the court that the district administration had leased the road under political pressure. The Division Bench expressed strong displeasure, stating that violating court orders constitutes a serious case of contempt. The court emphasised that a public road intended for villagers’ use cannot be handed over to any private company or individual for their benefit. Action will be taken if response unsatisfactory The court had said that administrative officers are expected to protect public property, not hand it over under political influence. Now in this entire matter, the Collector and contractor will have to appear personally to present their case. The court has warned that strict action may be taken if a satisfactory response is not received. The villagers have got temporary relief, as dumping on the road has been completely banned.