Court asks Delhi govt to rein in rough traffic in Capital

New Delhi, Jan 25 (UNI) In a sweeping order, the Delhi High Court today directed the Delhi Government and Delhi Police to rein in the rough traffic in the capital which claimed 2019 lives in accidents in 2005.

A Division Bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and H R Malhotra said the authorities should ensure lane driving of the vehicles which otherwise were claiming innocent lives.

Giving details, Counsel Jubeda Begum appearing for Delhi Police submitted that about 600 people died in accidents involving public transport buses including that of the Delhi Transport Corporation(DTC).

Additional Solicitor General(ASG) Gopal Subramaniam, who was appointed amicus curiae, submitted a report suggesting steps to curb accidents on roads.

The Court directed the authorities not to purchase any bus for the public transport till the petition was disposed of.

Mr Subramaniam suggested that the public transport should use low frame and low steering buses to have a closer look at the road.

The Court expressed its concern saying that 65 per cent of the crime--rape and murder-- were committed in vehicles with black films.

The Delhi Transport Act did not allow vehicles to have black films and the Delhi Traffic Police was not doing anything to curb the menace, the court observed.

Despite a Supreme Court order, vehicle owners were using dark films on the glass of their vehicles, said the bench.

Adjouring the matter till Tuesday, the court directed the authorities to ensure use of helmate by the riders of the two-wheelers.

The Court questioned the Delhi Police for allowing many government vehicles to have red-light at the top ever for those who were not entitled to use such vehicles.

''How could the police allow vehicles with red-light to be used by even a clerk?'' asked the Court.

UNI