Rajasthan High Court Disposes Plea For Road Safety Audits Based On Steps Taken By Jaipur Development Authority

The Jaipur Bench of Rajasthan High Court has recently disposed off a public interest litigation filed by a not-for profit trust called ‘Muskaan’ seeking directions for conducting road safety audits (pre and post) from the designing stage itself as well as the implementation the Rajasthan Road Safety Policy, 2017.

The Division bench of Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Praveer Bhatnagar has also accorded the petitioner trust liberty to draw the attention of the court to any lingering issues despite the remedial steps taken by the respondents including the State and Jaipur Development Authority.

The civil writ petition also sought appropriate direction from the court to specifically set up a dedicated agency consisting of experts under a public-private model for Third Party Audits. Another relief sought for was instituting a dedicated agency to collect and effectively maintain a road Accident and Safety Information Network and Database under the State Road Safety Policy. While disposing off the PIL filed in 2019, the court pointed out that the Development Authority has already furnished a comprehensive reply in 2021 as to the steps taken for road safety and the action plan to control the menace of traffic in Jaipur City.

“…In the said reply, in para no. 8, steps taken by Jaipur Development Authority including the action plan to control the menace of traffic have been outlined in detail. The reply shows that steps regarding installation of traffic signals, pamphlets and posters put over the sign boards, controlling entry of heavy vehicles in Jaipur City in specified hours, controlling movement of beggars at traffic/red light signals, installation of cameras, availability of PCR vans and other aspects have been taken”, the court observed.

Additionally, the court also pointed out that the Traffic Police of Jaipur has filed another affidavit in 2021 pertaining to the control and free flow of traffic.

“Leaving it open for the petitioner to bring to the notice of the Court any issue surviving consideration despite various steps taken by Jaipur Development Authority and the Commissioner, Traffic Police, Jaipur in the matter of management and control of traffic in the city, this PIL petition is disposed off.”, the division bench concluded while noting that there was no material on record available that justifies the continuance of the PIL at this point.

Case Title: Muskaan: Foundation Of Road Safety v. State of Rajasthan Through Its Transport Commissioners & Ors.

Case No: D. B. PIL Petition No. 15209/2019

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