Kerala High Court Rejects Congress Leaders' Plea Against AI Traffic Cameras, Seeking Probe Into Safe Kerala Project

The Kerala High Court today dismissed a writ petition filed by two Congress leaders challenging the installation of AI cameras for 'Automated Traffic Enforcement' in the State and and seeking a Court monitored enquiry into the Safe Kerala project.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji observed,

"Having thoroughly reviewed the claims in writ petition, the counter affidavit and the legal arguments from both counsels, we are compelled to conclude that the petitioners have failed to provide any evidence from which this Court could reasonably infer the existence of malafides, illegality, corruption or procedural impropriety in the contract for the AI camera installation under the Safe Kerala Project."

The allegations, the Court said, despite being serious in nature remain "unsubstantiated" by factual pleadings.

Adding that the PIL lacks substantive merit and does not meet the established legal threshold for judicial intervention in the State's contracting matters, the Court dismissed the petition. 

The writ was filed by leader of opposition VD Satheeshan and MLA Ramesh Chennithala, challenging the orders issued by the Government, action taken by the delegate KELTRON which is a State Government Company, and the alleged illegalities and corruption attached to the installation of AI Cameras "that have resulted in nepotism, favouritism and corruption including violation of privacy of persons".

The Court observed the claims of nepotism, and lack of transparency as bald statements rather than substantial allegations. "In this case, the Petitioners' request for an inquiry is based on unsubstantiated claims without credible documentary evidence of collusion, pre-determination, or corruption. Therefore, initiating a broad judicial probe into a major public infrastructure project without a prima facie demonstration of wrongdoing, supported by concrete evidence, would constitute an unwarranted "fishing and roving inquiry." the Court added.

The plea averred that KELTRON submitted a Detailed Project Report with a cost estimate of Rs.236 crore and that the project could be executed in BOOT (build–own–operate–transfer) method. However, the petitioners state that this was objected to by the Finance Department which claimed that KELTRON did not have the capacity or the know-how on the subject and that its cost analysis and estimate was rudimentary and undependable.

The petitioners alleged that despite the same, "since the actual benefactors of the project had direct access to top most reaches of power, under political pressure, the objections of the Finance Department were swept under the carpet and administrative sanction was given to the project", and work order was issued to KELTRON.

The Court concluded that mere suspicion and general allegations, is not the intended purpose of public interest litigation. "The allegations must be significant enough to "prick the conscience of the court" and warrant the issuance of a writ." it noted 

Thus, the writ petition was dismissed. 

Case Title: V D Satheeshan MLA & Others v State of Kerala and Ors.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 524

Case No: WP(C) 19992/ 2023 

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