Give Awareness To Drivers Carrying Sabarimala Pilgrims Regarding Road Conditions & Safe Practice To Avoid Untoward Incidents: Kerala HC Directs Motor Vehicles Department
|The Kerala High Court took note of two accidents involving a bus and a contract carriage carrying Sabarimala pilgrims and ordered reinforcement of its earlier order passed in the year 2022 directing the Police Officials and Motor Vehicles Department to give awareness to drivers of the vehicles carrying Sabarimala pilgrims, especially contract carriages as to the road conditions and also the safe practice that has to be followed in order to avoid any untoward incidents.
In its earlier Order, the High Court had also directed certain measures to be taken to sensitize the erring drivers.
The Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran & Justice Muralee Krishna S. asserted, “...we deem it appropriate to direct the 6th respondent Transport Commissioner, through the concerned Enforcement Officers in the Motor Vehicles Department, including those in the Safe Zone Project, to ensure strict compliance of the directions contained in the orders of this Court.”
Deputy Solicitor General Of India Manu S., Senior Government Pleader S. Rajmohan represented the Respondents.
The Special Commissioner, Sabarimala filed an additional report in this SSCR enclosing therewith a report of the Motor Vehicles Department (Safe Zone Project), regarding an incident in which a KSRTC low-floor bus without passengers, was destroyed in fire between Planthode and Pothenkuzhy in Nilakkal-Pamba route. The said bus was deployed by KSRTC for Nilakkal-Pamba chain service. On a preliminary enquiry, it was assumed that the reason for the fire was an electrical short circuit. Quick Response Team reached the place immediately after the incident and restored vehicular traffic. It was also brought to the Court’s notice that another accident occurred involving a contract carriage carrying pilgrims from Tamil Nadu which occurred at Attivalavu in between Erumeli and Kanamala road.
By an earlier order, passed in the year 2022, the High Court had directed the Police and the Enforcement Wing of the Motor Vehicles Department to ensure strict compliance of the directions asking the concerned officers in the Motor Vehicles Department, within the area of the respective Edathavalams/Temples in which facilities are provided for Sabarimala pilgrims to give awareness to drivers of the vehicles carrying Sabarimala pilgrims, especially contract carriages and other vehicles from the neighbouring State to avoid any untoward incidents in the Ghat sector of the roads leading to Pamba. They were also directed to take measures to sensitize the erring drivers.
Considering such factual aspects and the report, the Bench directed the respondent-Transport Commissioner, through the concerned Enforcement Officers in the Motor Vehicles Department, including those in the Safe Zone Project, to ensure strict compliance of the directions contained in the orders of this Court.
The Special Commissioner, Sabarimala had filed a report regarding installation of streetlights from Naranamthodu to Elavunkal. On this aspect, the Bench directed, “Registry to incorporate the same in Judges’ papers of this SSCR, after serving a copy of the same to the learned Senior Government Pleader and also the respective Standing Counsel.”
Cause Title: Suo Motu v. The Union Of India [Case No.- SSCR NO. 78 OF 2024]
Appearance:
Respondents: Deputy Solicitor General Of India Manu S., Senior Govt Pleader S. Rajmohan, Spl. Govt. Pleader P. Santhosh Kumar, Standing Counsel for Travancore Devaswom Board, M/s. Deepu Thankan, Advocates Ummul Fida, Lakshmi Sreedhar, Vineetha Bose, Cindia S. and Gayathri G., Standing Counsel For National Highway Authority Of India, Amicus Curiae Sayujya Radhakrishnan