V.RAMESH Vs. DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The speeding car did not stop inspite of the signal from the police to stop the vehicle. The police chased the car in which an advocate sticker was pasted. Finally, the car was blocked. The search made by the police yielded heavy quantity of Ganja and one of the revenue officials was also seated in the vehicle. It happened two to three years ago in Theni. That is how the vehicles having party flags, portraits of leaders, advocate and press stickers are said to be involved in criminal activities. The purpose of having party flags or designation boards or portraits of party/communal leaders or advocate/press stickers is only to keep away the police from stopping the vehicle even in case of violation of road rules. It has become an order of the day in Tamil Nadu that almost 50% of the vehicles either have party flags or designation boards or portraits of party/communal leaders or advocate/press stickers. This menace has to be addressed failing which the criminal activities will continue to be committed by the above modus operandi.

(2.) This case has been filed as a Public Interest Litigation at the right time seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to install the Highways properly and maintain the same and remove the unauthorized LED lights, coloring lights put up in all vehicles, including heavy transport vehicles. Since this matter relates to disciplining the motor vehicle owners, this Court has taken this opportunity and has tried to dealt with the issues raised in the first paragraph.

(3.) It is the specific case of the petitioner that high mast lights have to be erected in the National Highways and he had specifically stated that the high mast lights put up at Melur, Madurai and Melur to Trichy Highways are not properly maintained. It is the duty of the concerned authorities including the National Highway Authorities to erect high mast lights in the National Highways and maintain it properly. The vehicle population has got increased over the years resulting in increase in traffic at National Highways. Due to technical advancement, vehicles are moving round the clock for various reasons and therefore, to avoid an untoward incident like accident, it is the responsibility of the authorities especially the National Highways authorities to have high mast lights erected so that the roads will be properly lit.