Nagpur: Can’t tolerate those attacking cops, HC

NAGPUR: Expressing concern over increasing number of attacks on traffic constables on duty, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court warned such violators that it wouldn’t tolerate those taking law in their hands.
“The protectors of the public at large can’t be attacked or treated in this fashion. The security of traffic constables is in peril. We can’t tolerate violators taking law in their own hands and interfering with discharge of official duties of public servants,” a division bench comprising justices Ravi Deshpande and Pushpa Ganediwala said.While hearing a suo motu PIL (No7/2019) on rampant traffic violations where Shreerang Bhandarkar was appointed as amicus curiae assisted by Nidhi Dayani, the bench stated that instances of traffic rule violations and jumping of signals in city are on the rise. The directives came after HC was informed about an incident where a constable was attacked by violators at RBI Square.
“In response to various orders passed by this court, the traffic constables on signals are trying to catch hold of such violators. Consequently, the instances of slapping, beating or attacking constables while regulating or controlling traffic are also on the rise,” the judges stated.
They directed police commissioner Amitesh Kumar to file an affidavit through his subordinate responsible officer, giving specific instances of this nature which have taken place during the last one year and action taken against violators.
“We wanted all such violators interfering in discharge of official duties to be tried expeditiously on priority. We also wanted the department of home secretary and commissioner to come forward with steps which they propose to take to protect traffic constables from such instances,” they said before adjourning the hearing till October 20.
In the last hearing, the HC blasted traffic constables for engaging on their mobile phone while on duty and directed DCP (traffic) and higher authorities to ensure that constables should be at the middle of squares doing duties.
“It was experienced that even if a traffic constable is found standing at the centre of a junction or signal, the public hesitate to jump signals or to violate traffic rules. We’ve been continuously witnessing that traffic constables all over the city are engaged on their mobile phones and remain completely ignorant about jumping of signals or violation of traffic rules by the public,” the judges had said.
The bench had called upon the traffic department to give details of action taken against constables for failing to perform their duties on the basis of information collected from CCTV footage or from other sources.
“In our September 18, 2019, order, we noted that if constables regulate traffic from the middle of the road that would also avoid their engagement in watching mobiles or communicating messages, as they would be in vision of the traffic. It’s in this background the idea of installing elevated traffic booths at the centre of a junction or signal was mooted to effectively regulate and control traffic,” the judges said.