| DB disposed off petition with directions to IGP traffic | | PIL seeking installing of CCTV, incorporating zebra crossing | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 6 : In a Public Interest Litigation filed by Aditya Singh and Bali Ram seeking directions to the respondents may be directed to install CCTV cameras on traffic signals, also seeking direction to increase the surveillance and conduct breathalyzer tests all around the city to check drunken driving especially in the wee hours of night.
In the PIL it has been also seeking direction to prevent use of mobile phones or any electronic device while driving a vehicle, to make wearing of seat belts compulsory for the front seat passengers in a vehicle, to create zebra crossing where required on traffic lights and crossings and to limit the age of vehicles to prevent harmful emissions as the health of the vehicle degrades with age causing ecological imbalance.
A Division Bench of State High Court Comprising Chief Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir observed that in the affidavit filed in support of this PIL, petitioners have stated that more than ten lakhs people have lost their lives due to road accidents in the last ten years and in 2013 about 1,40,000 people were killed and around five lakhs were seriously injured or permanently disabled. Division Bench further observed that According to the petitioners, the statistics indicate that one person dies in road accident every four minutes and the said accidents are happening due to drunken driving, bad road user behavior, non-enforcement of Traffic laws, and not giving priority to road safety. According to the petitioners, zebra crossing for pedestrians could benefit and reduce the number of road accidents and if CCTV cameras are installed at Traffic signals and surveillance regarding the checking of drunken driving in the night hours; use of mobile phones and electronic devices while driving; wearing of seat belts and helmet are made mandatory; and old vehicles are prevented, road accidents can be prevented to a large extent. Pointing out all these facts, petitioners have also approached the authorities by filing representation on 22.12.2014 by registered post including the higher officer of the State, namely, IGP Traffic, CID Complex, Canal Road, Jammu, and as no action is taken by the said officer as on date, though the matter requires to be viewed seriously and emergent action is necessary. Hence, the petitioners have filed this writ petition. Division Bench after hearing Advocate Aparjita Jamwal appearing for the PIL disposed off the petition with direction to IGP Traffic to consider the representation dated 22.12.2014, already made by the petitioners, in the light of the statutory provisions and Traffic Law, and pass appropriates orders and communicate the same to the petitioners within a period of eight weeks. JNF |
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