Nagpur: Maharashtra government on Tuesday informed the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court that it would consider amending Motor Vehicles Act, 1998, for provisioning stringent action against those who attack traffic police on duty.
In an affidavit filed before the high court, home department deputy secretary Yuvraj Ajetrao said rising incidences of attack on traffic constables were discussed in a meeting chaired by additional chief secretary on October 26.
“During the meeting, penal action including suspension/cancellation of license for a certain period, executing a bond of good behaviour and impounding of vehicles in such offences were discussed.
“It was decided that the transport department shall examine feasibility of carrying out suitable amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act and rules made thereunder,” he said.
Ajetrao said state director general of police (DGP) was requested to issue necessary instructions for undertaking expeditious investigation into offences under IPC’s sections 332 and 353 for filing charge sheet in a time-bound manner. “The DGP was also asked to ensure early disposal of such cases in view of the amended provision under Section 309 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC),” he said.
The affidavit was filed while hearing two suo motu PILs (No. 5/2016 and No 7/2019). Shreerang Bhandarkar is amicus curiae assisted by Nidhi Dayani.
On court’s poser on commissioner of police’s proposal for providing 1,000 body-worn cameras to traffic cops and beat marshals on duty, Ajetrao said the issue was also discussed in the October 26 meeting.
“It has been decided to procure 200 such cameras on experimental basis. CP’s proposal is also being considered and necessary sanction is being granted for procurement of the equipment from department’s funds. If the experiment proved effective and practical, further action of procuring and providing such body-worn cameras to the city’s traffic police would be taken in phased manner,” he said.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Ravi Deshpande directed home and finance departments to make their position clear on all the issues, including body cameras, by next hearing on Thursday. The CJ orally stated that if the experiment is successful, it could be replicated across the state.
What the affidavit said
Issues raised in PIL, including attacks on traffic cops on duty, were discussed in home department meeting
Suspension/cancellation of license, bond of good behaviour & impounding of vehicles mulled
Transport department to examine feasibility of amending Motor Vehicles Act & rules
It will be done in consultation with law & judiciary department
DGP to ensure early disposal of cop attack cases as per CrPC’s Section 309
Govt to procure 200 body-worn cameras on experimental basis