Excelsior Legal Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 6: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Aditya Singh and Bali Ram seeking directions to the respondents to install CCTV cameras on traffic signals, to increase the surveillance and to conduct breathalyzer tests in the city to maintain a check on drivers driving vehicles after drinking especially during night, the Double Bench of the State High Court issued directives to IG Traffic to consider the representation of petitioners filed on 22-12-2014.
In the PIL directions have been sought 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 10 lakh people have lost their lives due to road accidents in the last 10 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 behaviour, non-enforcement of Traffic laws and not giving priority to road safety. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report reveals that every year more than 1,35,000 traffic collision relating to deaths occur in India. The Global Status Report on Road Safety published by the World Health Organization (WHO) identified the major causes for traffic guidelines as driving over the speed limit, driving under the influence of intoxication, using mobile phones during driving, not using helmet and seat belts, failure to maintain lane, and not following Traffic laws, etc. The survey conducted by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India states that the higher number of road accidents are occurring in the States of Andra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. In Jammu and Kashmir, Motorists are skipping traffic lanes, over speeding, using cell phones while driving, which can be prevented by installing CCTVs in traffic signals as has been done in other States. 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 further observed that Additional Advocate General on taking notice submitted that as the matter is pending before the IGP Traffic; a direction may be issued to the said authority to consider the representation of the petitioner and pass orders.
Upon this Division Bench disposed of 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.
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