Traffic Authorities Best Judges On Traffic Regulation; Courts Do Not Run Country: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that the traffic authorities are the best judges to decide on the issue of traffic regulation in the national capital and that it cannot, under the writ jurisdiction, sit over their decisions.

“The traffic authorities are the best judges to decide the issue of regulation of traffic in the city and this Court while exercising its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is not inclined to sit over as an Appellate Authority over the decisions taken by the traffic authorities for regulating the movement of traffic in the city,” a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said.

The court made the observation while dismissing a lawyer’s PIL seeking removal of certain blockades put on the crossings of Mathura Road that prevent a right turn while coming from the additional building of the Supreme Court to either the main building of the Top Court or the High Court.

The petitioner, a lady advocate, submitted that due to the barricades at all crossings on Mathura Road, the distance of about 300-400 meters while travelling from the additional building of Supreme Court to the main building of the High Court has become more than 5 KMs. It was her case that the same was not only time consuming but also a wastage of fuel.

Taking judicial notice of the fact that there has been a substantial increase in road traffic in the city in the last few years, the court said: “This Court can also take judicial notice of the fact of a number of cars that are parked on the roads in front of the High Court and in the lanes alongside this Court, which causes a traffic hindrance.”

However, it added that traffic control is the sole domain of the Traffic Police. Stating that courts do not run the country, the bench observed that it is up to the administration to take decisions for smooth functioning of the Government.

“In view of the above, this Court is not inclined to entertain the instant PIL. Resultantly, the PIL is dismissed, along with pending application(s), if any,” the court said.

Title: MAMTA RANI v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 550

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