In Gujarat, Govt property is attached for failing to reimburse contractor

In a rare turn of events, a government offices property has been attached in Gujarat under direction by a local court.

Godhra (Gujarat), Sept 8 : In a rare turn of events, a government office's property has been attached in Gujarat under direction by a local court.

The court ruling came as part of an ongoing case by the 'Sriram Construction Company' against the District Village Development Council in Godhra.

The petitioners allege the Council has not paid them Rs 650,000 rupees for constructing a road in 1981. Including the interests, the payable amount, as of now, stands at Rs 6.2 million.

The local court hearing the case finally ordered on August 22 that the Council office's property be attached.

"The (attach property) will be returned to the department officials if they produce to the court a cheque worth the outstanding amount," said Subhash Bhai Seth, attorney of the Sriram Construction Company.

The concerned Council officers did not turn up, as their offices were opened and chairs and computers carried out and away in the confiscated vehicles.

The attached property was estimated as being worth 64,000 rupees, around one per cent of the outstanding amount.

Sriram Constructions has said it would take over the Council office premises itself, if the remaining amount were not paid within a week.

ANI