NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court on Tuesday took a grim view of the failure of Delhi Police in removing unmanned barricades from roads causing traffic jams. It ordered that a senior police officer be present before it on the next date of hearing on September 5 with an explanation. “What is all this, roads are meant for traffic or being closed like this?” a bench of Justices Mukta Gupta and Anish Dayal wondered while taking stock of a matter in which the court earlier took suo motu cognisance of a letter written to the Prime Minister. The communication was, in turn, sent to the high court for taking action against the haphazard placement of unmanned barricades on several roads in south Delhi. TimesViewCops argue that barricades curb crime. There is some merit to the argument. But it is equally true that many unmanned barricades have sprouted across the city. They merely block a portion of the road, restrict smooth flow of traffic and cause traffic jams night and day. Some of these barricades should be removed. Or, at least put up only at night and never unmanned. The High Court has rightly asked the police to explain its position. The citizens of Delhi can be spared this unnecessary daily hassle.“Even one unmanned barricade also causes a huge traffic jam. So many times as citizens we see half a barricade on an empty road with no one around, this is how you manage traffic by blocking all the routes? If someone has a medical emergency, he will first have to spend half an hour to cross that way and the patient might not reach the hospital in time….The one who has to escape, he manages to give you a slip anyway. At 6pm when the traffic is at its peak, you put these barricades and block roads,” an irked bench pointed out to the counsel for Delhi Police. “The special commissioner of police (law and order) will be present in the court on the next date of hearing with a detailed report as to how the compliance of the standing order of 2021 will be ensured,” it directed. Delhi Police’s own order states that under no circumstances, unused barricades should be left unmanned on carriageways and footpaths, yet a plea showing barricading in Vasant Kunj reached the court, the bench noted. Not only unmanned barricades have been placed, the entire road is blocked by mobile barricades, it added. “The issue raised by Om Prakash Goel requires consideration since these unmanned barricades on roads prima facie serve no purpose and, indeed, cause inconvenience and harassment to the public at large,” the court earlier said seeking replies from the police commissioner, Delhi government, Centre through the home ministry, and the municipal corporation.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-man-made-hurdles-on-roads-getting-the-rap/articleshow/93739941.cms
