The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken suo motu notice of repeated incidents involving reckless driving, stunts, and birthday celebrations on public roads, including national highways, which pose serious threats to public safety and civil order. The Court expressed strong dissatisfaction with the state authorities’ response, describing previous measures as inadequate and ineffective. It directed all concerned officials and law‑enforcement agencies to launch a comprehensive public awareness campaign through print and electronic media, social media, radio, highway signage, and community workshops to educate citizens about the dangers of performing stunts or celebrations on public roads.
The Court emphasised that roads are intended for commuting and transportation, not for private celebrations or dangerous stunts. Such acts obstruct traffic, endanger the lives of other commuters, and disturb public order. It made clear that individuals who violate road safety norms must face strict prosecution, regardless of their social standing, and repeated violations would not be tolerated.
The intervention followed viral reports of a man performing car stunts in Bilaspur, including sitting on the bonnet and roof of the vehicle, as well as a separate incident in which a medical officer celebrated a birthday on a national highway by cutting a cake and bursting firecrackers. Although the State had earlier taken some action by registering FIRs, impounding vehicles, and proposing license suspensions, the Court found these steps grossly inadequate. In one instance, the fine imposed was merely ₹300, which the Court remarked was trivial and ineffective as a deterrent.
Given the gravity of these incidents, the High Court directed the State’s Chief Secretary to file a fresh affidavit detailing concrete and stricter measures to prevent the recurrence of such events. The Court further clarified that vehicles seized in such cases must not be released without prior permission from the Court.
The Bench warned that if the State continues to treat these incidents lightly or fails to act decisively, it may consider initiating proceedings under contempt provisions for willful disobedience of its directives. The Court scheduled further hearings to assess whether the State has implemented a comprehensive and proactive plan to curb road hooliganism, reckless driving, and the misuse of public roads for private celebrations, emphasizing the need for accountability and public safety.
0 Comments
Thank you for your response. It will help us to improve in the future.