24 Vehicles Impounded In Past Week For Wrong-Side Driving In Ahmedabad: State To Gujarat High Court

While hearing a plea seeking contempt for non-compliance of orders in a 2017 PIL on traffic issues and illegal parking on public roads in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday (July 30) was informed by the State that in the "last seven days 24 vehicles have been impounded for wrong-side driving" in the city. 

In the previous hearing the court had taken serious note of the "wrong side driving" incidents and orally remarked that Police must show no reluctance in taking action against vehicles including cars which bear high court's sticker/ number plate.

Addressing a division bench of Justice AS Supehia and Justice RT Vachchani regarding the issue, the State counsel submitted that the authorities had started seizing vehicles. 

At this stage Justice Vachchani orally said, "On Ring Road heavy loaded vehicles are still permitted. They are not possessing any pass. These passes are required to be scrutinized". To this the State's counsel said that he will immediately take up the issue with the concerned authorities. 

Meanwhile Justice Supehia further orally said, "Glaring example which is witnessed by my brother is that, though the...officers are standing over there, they are permitting these wrong siders and no action has been...unless you fix accountability of the police officers this is going to happen". The State's counsel submitted that he shall seek instructions on the same and inform the court on the next date.

The counsel, while pointing to a compilation, submitted, "It is an ongoing exercise...for each of the traffic police stations we have adopted certain schools. Senior police inspectors are now going to schools and educating children to tell their parents not to do this. In gross cases of wrong-side driving, I have not put it on affidavit as it has an element of privacy of individuals whose vehicles are impounded...but these are 24 vehicles that we have impounded for wrong side driving...my instructions are as of today all 24 are impounded". 

The bench thereafter said, "We have just read the news item on what is happening in Bopal (area in Ahmedabad). Absolutely chaotic situation over there...Entire Bopal area from main highway to interior side, there are encroachments...more than 50% road is occupied by vehicles. They are stationary".

State's counsel said that the Municipal Corporation and the police had met two days ago and will be focussing on this issue.

He further submitted that the exercise of impounding vehicles had "worked wonders" as the flavour of the vicinity changes. Giving an example of an area in the city where the exercise was carried out, the counsel said that the "loud message that went is that on this road you cannot do wrong side driving". 

He however said that self-realization by the citizenry on this issue is also very important. 

Appreciating the exercising undertaken by the police of informing children in schools regarding wrong-side driving the court further orally said,"but then we see that mothers are driving their children...on the wrong side on two wheelers having children on board. How can we inculcate the habit to the parents who are violating the law?...Sometimes we also feel helpless, to what extent can the high court interfere". 

The counsel submitted that having more traffic police on the field is not the solution because even if 15,000 traffic police are deployed, there are crores of vehicles in the city. He therefore stressed on self-regulation. 

Meanwhile senior advocate Bhaskar Tanna appointed as amicus curiae in the matter submitted his suggestions stating that "something has to be done by technology, by police and experts" to tackle the issue. The court asked the State's counsel to go through the suggestions submitted by the senior counsel.

The matter is next listed on August 6. 

Case Title: Mustak Hussain Mehndi Hussain Kadri vs Jagadip Narayan Singh, IAS & Anr. AND Batch

R/MCA/979/2019 IN R/WPPIL/170/2017