HC pulls up state govt over condition of road in Kochi

The Kerala High Court on Friday pulled up the state government over the condition of roads in Kochi due to which a 23-year-old biker lost his life.

Yadhu Lal K, the sole breadwinner of a poor family at nearby Koonammavu, died on Thursday after his two-wheeler hit a board placed over a hole and he fell under the rear wheel of a water tanker at Palarivattom area.

Taking a serious note of the issue, Justice Devan Ramachandran appointed three advocates as amicus curie to study and report on the condition of roads in Kochi.

The Court directed the amicus curie to file its first report before December 20 when the matter will be considered.

It tendered an apology to the family of Yadhu Lal.

Observing that pits on roads have become death traps, the Court said it has lost faith in the bureaucracy which has been inactive on the issue, despite directives being given to the government to the need of repair of roads.

Those responsible for the poor condition of the roads should be made personally liable, the Court said.

Names of erring officers should be published on websites, the court said.

The system should apologise to the parents of Yadhu Lal for his unfortunate death due to the lapses on the part of the government and its officials, the Court said.

The Advocate General informed the Court that Rs 10 lakh compensation would be given to the family of the deceased.

The Court made the observations while considering a plea by C P Ajithkumar, seeking urgent action to repair roads in Kochi.

The State Human Rights Commission has registered a case after the incident triggered widespread protests by local people.