Cops are best judge of traffic: HC

Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009

The traffic police may well be cursed every now and then for changing rules that lead to vehicular congestion, but the Delhi High Court has said cops should be granted enough leeway in deciding traffic management. ''Ultimately, it is for the traffic police to decide how best they can manage and regulate traffic and parking,'' Justice Sanjiv Khanna has observed in a recent order, refusing to issue any directions to the police in a case related to central market Lajpat Nagar. He was hearing a petition filed by Resident Welfare Association of I-block, urging HC to set aside the traffic plan currently in place in the central market. The current policy makes key routes falling inside the market ''one way.''

In the petition, the RWA sought quashing of the new traffic rules issued by DCP (traffic) declaring Firoz Gandhi Marg and Veer Sawarkar Marg as one way routes. They alleged this was an arbitrary rule which put local residents to great inconvenience. After the court sought a response, the traffic police filed a status report pointing out the area in question was extremely congested.

It further informed HC that in 2004 the Central Road Research Institute had carried out a survey for regulating traffic movement and parking plan in the area, after which the MCD prepared a long term scheme for traffic movement. Once this was approved by the deputy commissioner, Central Zone, the one-way scheme was put in place. Cops maintained all due procedures had been followed and allegation of arbitrariness were unfounded.

The high court agreed saying new scheme/plans when implemented can result in inconvenience but the police can experiment and take remedial steps as and when needed.

''Every traffic plan or regulation in a heavily congested area like Lajpat Nagar is bound to create difficulties and inconvenience for some traders/residents and be more advantageous for those at another location. The fact that the market is frequented is beneficial for all traders,'' HC reasoned, leaving it to the traffic cops to consider the suggestions and take action if needed.

Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Cops-are-best-judge-of-traffic-HC/articleshow/5393556.cms