Calcutta HC Calls For Circular On Use Of Barricades On National Highways, Suggests Illumination & Warnings To Avoid Mishaps

The Calcutta High Court has called upon the state government to issue guidelines on the use of barricades on national highways in the state in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents caused by speeding cars colliding with stationary barricades.

A bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice C. Chatterjee Das was approached by the petitioners represented by senior counsel who claimed that the placement of these barriers on the highways was being done in an illegal manner.

Counsel claimed that due to these barricades, a lawyer had suffered a serious accident while travelling on one such national highway.

It was submitted that some protective measures would have to be taken by the government in order to ensure that these barricades do not pose a danger to the regular commuting public.

Counsel placed RTIs which showed that the barricades had not been placed by the National Highways authorities or by the state police- but by the local police administration to control the flow of traffic.

Speaking for the bench, the Chief Justice noted that even after the barricades were placed, cars were travelling at high speeds and causing accidents. He suggested that these barricades be placed near accident-prone zones.

The bench thus asked the state to issue a circular on the use of barricades on national highways and directed to illuminate the barricades and provide adequate advance warning to motorists in order to avoid accidents.

Case: DHRUBA MUKHERJEE VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.

Case No: WPA(P)/69/2025