'Cannot Fix Operating Hours': Madras High Court Dismisses PIL Seeking Peak Hour Restrictions On Garbage Trucks

The Madras High Court on Tuesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation seeking to prohibit Tamil Nadu government and Greater Chennai Corporation from operating garbage trucks at peak office or school hours.

While dismissing the petition, Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy said that the court cannot not fix the operating hours of the garbage trucks.

The petitioner, V Anand, submitted that the garbage trucks operating in peak times - 8:30 am to 10:00 am, cause great disturbance and nuisance to the general public and also create traffic snarls.

It was also submitted that the garbage trucks are being operated without any covering net which causes spillage and inconvenience to the public. The petitioner also gave examples of other countries where garbage trucks are permitted to operate only during night hours so that the public is not affected.

The petitioner also drew attention to the fact that the garbage trucks are often parked on the road, thus sometimes blocking the major roads which in turn adds to the inconvenience. It was submitted that even though the petitioner made representations to the Mayor, Greater Chennai Corporation and Additional Commissioner of Police till date, there has been no response nor any action has been taken by the authorities concerned.

Case Title: V Anand v State of Tamil Nadu and others