The Meghalaya High Court has directed the State government to provide the exact status and the timelines with regard to the implementation or activation of the CCTV cameras, Automatic Speed Detection Devices and other measures to curb rash driving and over speeding by vehicles and bikers in Shillong.
The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew and Justice B Bhattacharjee passed the order today on a PIL by legal activist Romilton Pahsyntiew.
During the hearing, Pahsyntiew’s lawyer Nitu Syngkon drew the attention of the court to the affidavit filed on behalf of the State government on August 14.
According to Syngkon, from paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of the government affidavit it can be seen that nothing has progressed with regard to the activation of the CCTV cameras and the Automatic Speed Detection Devices.
The High Court in its observation at the hearing noted that the PIL has been brought before the court to highlight the failure of the State authorities and law enforcement agencies to enforce the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and to ensure that a traffic safety system is put in place, to curb reckless driving and other such activities.
“This court deems it fit at this stage to call for further inputs and information both from the side of the petitioner and the State respondents as to the exact status and the timelines with regard to the implementation or activation of the CCTV cameras, Automatic Speed Detection Devices and other measures that they have stated in the affidavit that will be and have been adopted. The petitioner is also at liberty to provide further information by way of an additional affidavit to show places or spots where traffic hazards exist,” the court said.
It may be mentioned that during the hearing held on June 3, the State government had produced an affidavit dated May 31 which mentioned that steps have been taken for installation of CCTV cameras and also Automatic Speed Detection devices so that the traffic could be regulated.
According to the affidavit, the government has proposed to install over 300 high-end CCTV cameras with facial recognition features in various locations in the city which is likely to be running by the month of July 2024.
The affidavit stated that such CCTV cameras will act as a deterrent to help in reducing various crimes and also the said cameras will be of aid when it comes to detecting traffic violations by capturing the registration numbers and other features of vehicles or two-wheelers since it has been pointed out that such CCTV cameras will be enhanced with facial recognition software. This in turn will be assistance to the police to gather evidence in different cases.
With regard to the installation of Automatic Speed Detection devices and earmarking the speed limits throughout the city, the affidavit stated that the State government has examined the matter in detail.
It also stated that the Joint Secretary, Transport Department had also requested the Police Department to prepare a proposal for installation of Automatic Speed Detection devices in the city and to submit the same to the Home (Police) Department at the earliest. Further, it said that the District Superintendents of Police in their respective jurisdictions would be notified with regard to the earmarking of speed limits.
