HC asks Traffic Commissioner to file reply about towing norms

Mumbai, July 7 (UNI) The Bombay High Court has directed the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to file an affidavit within three weeks, in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) regarding the unregulated functioning of towing trucks in the city.

Hearing the petition yesterday, filed by Gaurang Damani whose car was towed despite being parked in a parking zone recently, a division bench comprising Justices R M Lodha and S F Vajifdar, asked the JCP to file whether it had received any complaints from motor-owners citing damage caused to their vehicles due to towing.

The court also ordered the JCP (Traffic) to submit the list of vehicles towed in the last six months and the revenue thus collected as fine. It also directed him to submit the terms and conditions provided, while engaging the contractors for towing.

He was also told to explain why no written contracts were made between the contractors and the police.

The court, however, was told that no permission was granted to the contractors to open the cars they had towed. Also, 16 out of the 116 towing trucks were owned by the relatives of the cops. Overall, there are 62 towing trucks in operation currently.

On this, the court observed that ''this is a money-making racket'' and passed the said directions.

UNI XR-ARM DH VP0422