Himachal High Court pulls up state over dumping of accident-hit vehicles

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has expressed serious concern over the practice of dumping accident-hit vehicles along public roads in Shimla, particularly on the approach road to Shimla airport and near the district court complex at Chakkar, observing that it poses a threat to road safety and disrupts traffic.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the issue, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi directed the state government to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing the steps proposed to remove the vehicles and identify a designated site for their storage.

The Bench observed that the Police Department had parked accident-damaged vehicles on both sides of the road connecting the National Highway to Shimla airport for nearly 500 metres, adversely affecting traffic movement and causing inconvenience to commuters.

It further noted that a similar situation existed near the district court complex at Chakkar, where damaged vehicles had been left unattended along the roadside.

Observing that public roads and national highways cannot be converted into parking or dumping grounds, the court said the right of way belongs to road users and cannot be encroached upon by abandoned vehicles.

Emphasising the need to ensure smooth traffic flow and public safety, the Bench directed the Police Department to identify a suitable location away from highways and public roads for storing accident-hit vehicles.

Considering the seriousness of the issue, the court ordered that the Secretary (Home), Government of Himachal Pradesh, the Superintendent of Police, Shimla, and the Superintending Engineer, Shimla Circle, be impleaded as respondents. The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 3.