Kerala High Court Told AI Cameras Could Be Used To Monitor Road Conditions

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday took note of the suggestion made by the members of the Bar that Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cameras placed by the Traffic Department at various vantage points could be used to monitor the condition of roads in the State. 

Justice Devan Ramachandran observed that roads ought to be repaired on a continuous basis. 

"It should not be a process for this Court every year to monitor roads and to have it repaired; but the system must be alive to its responsibilities to do so on a continuous and perceptual basis. It is only if the bad condition of roads are noticed by the Authorities at the right time and reported effectively, can it be saved from further depredation. But, most of the time, this is never being done, in spite of specific orders from this Court," the Court noted. 

The Court added that it had already clarified that Officers and Engineers would be held responsible if roads go into disrepair, and that directions have also been issued by the Vigilance Department to register cases, if the same happens within a particular period. 

The Senior Government Pleader appearing for Public Works Department (PWD) K.V. Manoj Kumar submitted that not all stretches of roads in the State were covered by AI Cameras, but added that wherever it was so, the aforementioned suggestion could be considered by the appropriate Authority. 

The matter has been posted for further consideration on July 26, 2023. 

Case Title: Pauly Vadakkan v. Corporation of Cochin

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