THEMadhya Pradesh High Court has taken a tough stand on long pending problem of traffic jams and haphazard parking in front of Jabalpur High Court. Hearing a public interest petition, a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Vivek Rushia and Justice Pradeep Mittal acknowledged that the large number of vehicles parked around the High Court and District Court premises is causing daily inconvenience to citizens, students and court visitors. Although the construction process for proposed multi-level parking building for advocates has begun and tenders have been issued, its completion will still take time. Consequently, the court has issued several important directives to provide immediate relief. The High Court has requested cooperation from officials, advocates and other individuals concerned and advised them to adopt a pick-and-drop system. The court has directed the Advocate General’s Office to issue an advisory to officials of various departments to ensure that their vehicles are not parked on the road in front of the High Court throughout the day.

 

Similar instructions have been issued to Central Government officials. Advocates with drivers have been requested to adopt a pick-anddrop system instead of parking their vehicles on the road. Lawyers have also been advised to adopt carpooling to better utilise limited parking space and reduce traffic congestion on roads. The court has directed the Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) to take regular action against illegal parking in front of the High Court and District Court and to deploy adequate traffic police. Furthermore, the road in front of the High Court, from Collectorate Crossing to Tehsil Crossing, has been ordered to be declared one-way on a trial basis for 30 days, from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday. The court believes this experiment may help reduce traffic congestion and streamline traffic flow. The demand for construction of a flyover in front of the High Court and Ghampaur area as a permanent solution to the traffic congestion problem will be considered in the next hearing after the State Government receives a detailed response.