Punjab and Haryana High Court Issues Order to Ensure Unobstructed Flow of Traffic on National Highway-44

Date: June 6, 2023

In a significant development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a crucial order to maintain the smooth movement of traffic on National Highway-44 (NH-44). The court's directive comes in response to an application filed by petitioner Randeep Tanwar in the case of CM-37-CWP-PIL-2023, challenging the gathering of a mob on the highway.

The petitioner, represented by Mr. Padamkant Dwivedi, Advocate, sought the court's intervention to prevent a potential disruption caused by the mob gathering, which was allegedly in violation of the court's previous interim directions issued on September 23, 2022.

During the proceedings, the petitioner's counsel presented an affidavit from the Chief Secretary of the Government of Haryana, which stated that talks were held with the leaders of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Union), the sixth respondent in the case. As a result of these discussions, the Union had agreed to remove the road blockade on NH-44, provided that the agricultural produce in the mandis (marketplaces) was protected from the rain.

However, the petitioner's counsel argued that the Union had once again threatened to resume the blockade if the purchase of Surajmukhi crop produce was not initiated promptly. He played video recordings from news channels in court, highlighting the Union leaders' demands to divert traffic from NH-44 as they prepared to block it again.

Considering the seriousness of the situation, the court, led by Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul and Justice Manisha Batra, deemed it appropriate to issue directions to the official respondents. The court ordered the officials to ensure the unobstructed flow of traffic on NH-44, emphasizing that the highway serves as a crucial lifeline connecting various parts of the country.

While issuing the directive, the court also cautioned the administration to exercise utmost restraint and resort to force only as a last resort in dispersing the gathering. The order is to be implemented immediately and without any delay.

The court further directed the Chief Secretary to submit a report detailing the steps taken in compliance with the order, along with a status report, on the next hearing date, which has been set for June 13, 2023.

This order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court is expected to ensure the smooth functioning of NH-44, preventing any inconvenience to the public and maintaining law and order in the region. The court's intervention comes at a crucial time, as NH-44 connects the entire nation, spanning from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanya Kumari.

Date: June 6, 2023

Randeep Tanwar vs State of Haryana & others

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