Bhubaneswar, Sept. 18: Orissa High Court has criticised the Puri district collector and two other officials for succumbing to political pressure and changing the list of projects to suit a BJD MLA.

The collector, project director of the District Rural Development Authority and the block development officer of Astarang in Puri district had ignored the list approved by the village committees to favour another list prepared by Kakatpur MLA.

The court observed: “It is not understood how the collector and the block development officer, who are responsible public servants, became mute spectators to the highhandedness of the Kakapur MLA and agreed to prepare a fresh project list according to his direction and approved the same, in gross disregard of the guidelines prescribed in the resolution of the state government.”

“This action of the collector and block development officer amounts to abdication of their officials duty and responsibility,” the court observed.

The court said: “It is very alarming that the Kakatpur MLA, who is expected to uphold the rule of law, has acted in an irresponsible manner, in gross disregard of the resolutions of the state government and the interests of the general public.”

Asking the collector and block development officer to implement the project lists selected by the gram sabha and compiled by the block development officers of Astarang and Kakatpur blocks strictly in terms of the resolutions of the state government.