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Delhi High Court dismissed PIL to suspend use of traffic light violation cameras during Covid-19

Teesha

The Delhi High Court dismissed a PIL filed by Utkarsh Trivedi, a fourth-year Law student to suspend the use of traffic light violation cameras amid COVID-19. 

The court also imposed a cost of Rs. 2,500 on the petitioner. 

The Petition was moved by Utkarsh, through advocate Satyam Singh, it pleaded direction of Union Home Ministry and Delhi Police to suspend the issuance of challans by the red light violation cameras in Delhi, till the havoc created by the pandemic is under control. 

The rationale presented was that, due to the fear of repercussions of crossing the red light or just moving over the STOP line, the drivers standing in front of the ambulances do not give way to it, because of which it has to wait even during such critical state of a patient, which is a sheer violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

While dismissing the plea the Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh posited that the PIL was filed without any homework. The court further asked the petitioner whether he has been on the road in the last 3-4 days,

Chief Justice Patel further commented that such ideas emerge while “sipping tea” and turned down the counsel’s request to withdraw the plea. 

On the counsel’s request to waive off the costs imposed and the court fees, the bench answered “we’ll see