Unmanned Barricades Cases Can Be Immediately Reported On Helpline, Twitter: Delhi Police Informs High Court

The Delhi Police informed the Delhi High Court on Monday that it has issued a new standing order directing that the matters relating to unattended barricades can be immediately reported on 112 helpline or Twitter by tagging social media handles of the city police and the traffic department.

A division bench comprising of Justice Mukta Gupta and Justice Anish Dayal called the said proposed measure a welcome step as the same would keep a check on unmanned police barricades.

The development ensued in a suo moto PIL registered by the Court earlier this year over the issue of setting up of unmanned police barricades in South Delhi area.

Earlier, the Court had directed Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) to remain present before the Court, after it expressed displeasure over unmanned barricades being put on roads when not in use, resulting in traffic jams and blocking of roads.

During the course of hearing today, the Court took note of a status report filed by the Delhi Police suggesting that the earlier standing order in relation to the maintenance and usage of mobile barricades has been superceded and a new revised standing order has been issued on 21 March, 2022.

The Bench also noted that apart from the measures and directions issued in standing order, the Delhi Police has been issuing various instructions to ensure meticulous compliance of the new standing order.

As per the directions issued, the Court was also informed that no barricades should be put up at peak traffic hours unless there is a specific input or information regarding law and order or crime detection and that the same will be done with the permission of senior officer at the level of the DCP concerned.

As per the status report, the Delhi Police further proposed to take measures to streamline the process of putting barricades on roads of residential colonies during night hours on the request of RWA.

The Court was also informed that on the proposals received, no pilot project study has been made at present and that it is only after a study is made that the necessary directions will be issued.

The Court thus granted eight weeks' time to the Delhi Government to prepare guidelines in relation to the barricades in RWA areas.

The matter will now be heard on 14 November.

The matter was registered as a PIL by taking cognizance of a letter addressed by one On Prakash Goel in December last year, claiming to be the President of Delhi Pradeshik Aggarwal Sammelan.

In the said letter which was addressed to the Prime Minister of India, grievances were raised with respect to setting up of unmanned barricades in the areas in question.

Om Prakash had also raised a grievance that such unmanned barricades serves no purpose and are in fact causing blockades of free flow of traffic, resulting in misery and harassment to vehicle owners and general public which lead to long traffic jams and hold ups.

He had also circulated news reports published in the Times of India as well as other Hindi dailies.

Accordingly, the Court had directed issuance of notice to Commissioner of Police, Union of India through Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi Government and South Delhi Municipal Corporation through its Commissioner.

The Court had also asked the Delhi Police to place on record the protocol that they follow in relation to setting up of barricades in the city, if any.

Case Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION V. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND ORS