HC panel orders constitution of team to check blueline menace

New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today ordered constitution of a team of traffic wardens, headed by former CBI chief U N Mishra, to pull Delhi out of the chaos created by rampaging blueline buses.

A division bench, headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Reva Khetrapal, while empowering Mr Mishra to constitute his team of wardens, snubbed the counsel arguing for Association of Call Centre Cabs when he submitted before the court that the statutory speed limit of 40 kms/hr did not cover the cabs carrying BPO staff.

Distinguishing the cabs from the rest, he defined these vehicles as Commercial Motor Vehicles and not Light Motor Vehicles. Besides, he sought to prevail upon the judges how the speed limit will hit the BPOs and the IT sector.

This drew the court's ire which said ''We are not ready to accept your definition. More so when the lives are at stake. Life is dearer than money,'' said the judges.

The court asked the amicus curae to ensure replacement of the buses impounded within one day.

The judges were, however, categorical that the commuters must not be left stranded on the roads.

The replacement must be swift, they added. The amicus was told to explore the possibility of replacement with battery run buses.

''It has twin advantages. They are not only non-polluting but also run slow,'' the court said.

The court stressed the need to think out of the box.

The Supreme Court deadline of 10,000 buses by 2011 is sacrosanct, the court observed.

UNI