The Supreme Court on Monday granted all States and Union Territories four weeks to file compliance affidavits in a batch of public interest litigations relating to road safety after noting that only four States had complied with its earlier directions.
Senior Advocate Atmaram Nadkarni, appearing as Amicus Curiae, informed the Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sanjay Kumar that compliance reports had so far been received from only four States. He submitted that several affidavits had been filed only a day earlier and sought time to examine them before preparing a consolidated status report indicating the extent of compliance with the Court’s previous directions.
Taking note of the submission, the Court observed that the substantive directions on road safety had already been issued and that the present proceedings were aimed at monitoring their implementation. It accordingly directed the remaining States and Union Territories to file their compliance affidavits within four weeks.
It further directed the Amicus Curiae to compile the responses received from all jurisdictions and submit a consolidated report identifying the directions that have been implemented and those that remain pending.
During the hearing, the Bench also expressed concern over rampant encroachments along highways and the practice of parking heavy vehicles on road shoulders. It observed that such encroachments compel motorists to move onto the carriageway, undermining the safety objectives for which highways are developed.
The Court also considered submissions in connected applications seeking additional road safety measures. These included a plea for mandatory installation of reverse parking sensors and cameras in vehicles, as well as another application seeking stricter enforcement of laws against drunken driving.
The Bench indicated that these issues would be examined along with the broader road safety matters already pending before it. The matter will be taken up for further hearing after the States and Union Territories file their compliance affidavits and the consolidated status report is placed before the Court.
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