The Himachal Pradesh high court on Saturday directed the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police, Shimla, to appear in person before a court, regarding the movement of vehicles on sealed and restricted roads in the town.
A division bench comprising chief justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on a petition filed by a Shimla resident, treating it as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The court directed the official to appear on April 20 when the case is listed for next hearing.
Earlier, the chief secretary informed the court that a total of 846 new permits and 1,015 renewed permits to ply vehicles on sealed, restricted or both kind of roads were issued by the office of secretary (Home) in 2014 after completion of formalities by the applicants, who are either residing in the area or need to ply their vehicles on these roads in connection with their job or occupation in the particular area, while 318 route permits were issued by the secretary Vidhan Sabha upto August 21, 2014.
The chief secretary also submitted that there was no need and justification to review the existing permits and re-issue the same as it would cause inconvenience to local residents in having access to their homes and workplaces.
On January 9, the court had directed cancellation of all restricted and sealed road permits and directed the chief secretary to constitute a committee comprising principal secretary (home), principal secretary (transport), LR-cum-principal secretary (law) to examine all the permits and passes for use of sealed or restricted roads.
The chief secretary also submitted that there was no need and justification to review the existing permits and re-issue the same as it would cause inconvenience to local residents in having access to their homes and workplaces.
On January 9, the court had directed cancellation of all restricted and sealed road permits and directed the chief secretary to constitute a committee comprising principal secretary (home), principal secretary (transport), LR-cum-principal secretary (law) to examine all the permits and passes for use of sealed or restricted roads.