The Supreme Court embarked on a new beginning on Tuesday by forming a three-member panel headed by a Supreme Court judge to monitor implementation of measures by Centre and State Governments on road safety and emergency care to road accident victims.
Vesting the Committee to be headed by Justice KS Radhakrishnan after his retirement on May 15 this year to focus on road engineering, education, emergency care and implementation of Motor Vehicles Act and Rules, the bench had reason to believe that since 2004, statistics show that the number of accidents and persons killed have steadily shown a rise as compared to neighbouring China where this figure has dipped significantly.
"Indian roads have proved to be giant killers demanding immediate remedial action," said the bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam as it brought the Centre and states to report action taken on the four fronts to the Committee, also comprising former Transport Secretary S Sundar and Nishi Mittal, former head of department of Traffic Engineering and Safety, CRRI. The directions came on a PIl filed by orthopedic doctor S Rajaseekharan.
It directed all government departments which are looking after multi-dimensional issues pertaining to road safety to submit their first report to the Committee within three months on implementation and enforcement of laws pertaining to licensing, certification of fitness of vehicles and use of road safety devices and other related issues. The Committee would monitor all reports and make states accountable for inaction or lapses, and inform Court in three months. The matter is expected to be heard by Court after six months.
"One serious road accident in the country occurs every minute and one person dies in a road traffic accident every 4 minutes. Road traffic accidents, therefore, have the potential of being one of the largest challenges to orderly human existence necessitating immediate and urgent intervention," the Court said.