Nagpur: Stressing on the need to expedite cases against those attacking cops on duty, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the sessions court to complete trials within a month if the charge-sheets are filed.
A division bench comprising justices Ravi Deshpande and Pushpa Ganediwala asked the principal district and sessions judge to ensure that the concerned magistrates act expeditiously to commit cases to the trial court.
“We direct the respondent to supply a legible copy of this statement to the district and sessions judge, who shall take immediate steps to see that cases wherein charge sheet has already been filed should finish within a month from the date of committal of matters to the sessions court,” the judges said.
The HC’s response came after reading the affidavit by DCP (traffic) informing that eight instances of slapping, beating or assaulting traffic constables on duty took place during the last one year and charge sheet was filed in six cases. The affidavit was filed in a suo motu PIL (No7/2019) on rampant traffic violations where Shreerang Bhandarkar was appointed amicus curiae and assisted by Nidhi Dayani.
Before adjourning the hearing till November 3, the bench further asked government pleader Sumant Deopujari to respond to the DCP’s (traffic) proposal to procure 1,000 body cameras that would be attached to traffic constables’ uniform for keeping a tab on their activities. TOI had reported about this proposal in detail.
“We’re informed that such a proposal is being forwarded to the state home department as one of the measures to control traffic cops,” said the judges.
In response to HC’s directives (October 15), the home department’s principal secretary filed a reply informing that a meeting is scheduled to be held in this regard and an affidavit would be placed on record thereafter.
The judges, however, expressed disappointment by stating that “After going through it, we find that hardly can it serve the purpose and some concrete steps are required to be taken.”
On the issue of installing traffic booths in the middle of roads as per HC’s directives last year, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) through counsel Sudhir Puranik filed an affidavit stating that the work of erecting them at identified places would be completed within three months.
“We’re informed that a model of a traffic booth is prepared and is approved by the DCP. We would also like the amicus curiae to look into it and make suggestions. The NMC should start the process of erection of such booths. We expect the corporation to file an affidavit after a month stating the progress,” the judges said.