State measures taken to check plying of vehicles sans permit on restricted, sealed roads: HC to police

The Himachal Pradesh High Court todaydirected the DSP, Traffic, Shimla, to file an affidavit stating the mechanism to check plying of vehicles without permit on restricted and sealed roads here.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was also directed to state the measures to remove idle and unauthorised parked vehicles on the Circular Road.

A Division Bench comprising the Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Sharma passed these orders on a petition filed by Prem Raj and others.

The petitioners have alleged that despite their repeated requests and representations regarding haphazard parking on street sides of the "Ambulance Road" from Sanjauli-Cemetery Tunnel to Dhingu Bawri, Sanjauli, authorities concerned have failed to take action.

They also alleged that due to haphazard parking they were not able to take their patients to hospitals through the said road, and that mischief and nuisance reaches its peak during night hours when vehicles are parked in such a manner.

It becomes impossible for vehicles to cross and this creates hurdles for ambulances transporting patients during night hours, forcing attendants to take their ailing on foot till the main Sanjauli road, the petitioners said.

The high court also directed deputy commissioner (DC), Shimla, to file his affidavit stating the number of vehicles registered with the Registering Authority, Shimla (Urban).

The DC was also asked to state whether every vehicle owner has dedicated parking, in compliance with the orders passed by the court from time to time, and if not so, why no action was taken by authorities for cancellation of registration of such vehicles.

The court directed the DC and SP to state in their affidavits, the number of vehicles registered as taxis, which were plying in the town, and about dedicated parking.

It also directed to state whether meters were installed in taxis for recording mileage to charge fare and if there were sufficient sign boards and signages to indicate rates of taxis from one point to another.

The court has listed the matter for March 29 next.