HC raps state for misleading report on helmet-less riding

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 22

Censuring the Haryana Police for its failure to apply brakes to the menace of helmet-less riding in the state, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today dubbed the situation as “very bad” before summoning two IGP-level officers.

The direction came after the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa was told that false and misleading report was presented in the matter.

Referring to the affidavit, amicus curiae or the friend of the court Namit Kumar told the Bench that everyone was found wearing helmets in 11 districts of the state. Reading out the contents of the affidavit, he said number of challans issued to women for riding without wearing helmets was zero in these districts.

Kumar said they had CDs of Panchkula and Narnaul, which belied the claims. Taking a note of the assertion and the fact that the affidavit was filed by IGP Sanjay Kumar, the Bench directed him to be present in the court on the next date of hearing. The Bench also directed another officer Rakesh Kumar to be present after the Bench was told that he had replaced Sanjay Kumar following a reshuffle.

At the very onset, the Bench asserted that maximum people were not wearing helmets and there were no checks. “People are riding without helmets; and those with helmets prefer to carry the headgear around their arms,” the Bench asserted. “On an average, 45 out of 50 riders are not wearing helmets”.

Haryana’s attempts to justify the situation by claiming that they had their limitations and the state was “big” failed to find favour with the Bench. “Status reports are meaningless… You are filing false reports… We will go without telling anyone and get firsthand information,” the Bench added.

The developments took place during the hearing of a suo motu or “court on its own motion” case on traffic regulation and road safety. The State of Haryana has already filed two affidavits on traffic challans and installation of CCTV cameras.

The Bench was also asked the respondents to generate awareness after it was told about dissemination of information regarding traffic violations and challans through Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. The Bench asked the two states about such facility. The Bench added people were required to be made aware of the service.