High Court takes suo-motu cognisance of shoddy roads
| Date :18-Sep-2019 |
Staff Reporter :
Slams civic body, cops for inaction over potholes
Lashing out at the civic body and police authorities for their inaction in providing pot-hole free roads ensuring smooth traffic and accident-free roads, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday took suo-motu cognizance of shoddy roads and rising number of mishaps due to inept handling of the situation. Due to bad roads, one death was reported as the ambulance got stuck in the pothole and 29 serious injuries were also reported in last few weeks.
The High Court took judicial notice of public uproar regularly published by all newspapers of the city since last many weeks, highlighting criminal negligence of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and other agencies towards road infrastructure in the city.
A division bench consisting of Justice Z A Haq and Justice Pushpa Ganediwala while treating news reports and photo features published by various newspapers as public interest litigation, directed the Municipal Commissioner and Commissioner of Police to place on record action taken by them in this regard by September 23. Expressing deep anguish over the “vagaries of the citizens and the inaction on part of the concerned including the Police authorities,” the High Court minced no words while deploring their indifference towards plight of the citizens who are forced to suffer misery due to ever “deteriorating conditions of the road throughout the city and potholes, in last five months leading to several accidents.” The High Court sought details of action taken against erring officer and contractors responsible for road mishaps leading to injuries and death.
Both the top officials have been asked to spell out as to in how many cases “cognizance has been taken and how many crimes are registered and against whom.” If the affidavits are not filed, both the top officials have been asked to remain personally present before the High Court on September 24. The High Court also appointed Adv Rahil Mirza as Amicus Curiae in the matter and directed Registrar (Judicial) to render all possible assistance to him. Government Pleader Sumant Deopujari and Addl GP Sanjeev P Deshpande have been asked to appear in the matter and NMC’s counsel Adv Sudhir Puranik has been asked to communicate the order to Municipal Commissioner.