SC warns officials over public safety:Says judges will protest outside Delhi HC if road safety work is not completed

The Supreme Court warned officials over the safety of pedestrians crossing the road near the Delhi High Court. The court said that if the work was not completed, both judges would sit on a protest outside the Delhi High Court’s gate and would not return home until the work was finished. The court also said that Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Banerjee would not be allowed to go home either. The case concerns the safety of people crossing the road near the Delhi High Court. On 15 September, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to decide on installing speed breakers and rumble strips at the pedestrian crossing near the Delhi High Court and the National Zoological Park. Gaurav says installing a traffic light is not enough During the hearing, Gaurav Agrawal, the amicus curiae appointed to assist the court, said the central government had installed a traffic light at the location. However, he said that installing a traffic light alone was not enough. Speed breakers and rumble strips were also needed. He suggested that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways study the movement of vehicles and pedestrians at the location. ASG says installing a traffic light is sufficient Additional Solicitor General Vikram Banerjee said that installing a traffic light was sufficient. However, he added that the Centre was ready to make further arrangements if the court felt they were necessary. Justice Pardiwala responded that people’s lives were at stake. He said, “We will both go there. You also come with us. Everyone will go there. This is a matter of public interest.” Petition filed by Dr S Rajaseekaran in 2013 Last year, a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan expressed concern over the lack of proper pedestrian crossing facilities near the Delhi High Court. The petition seeking improvements in road safety was filed in 2013 by Dr S Rajaseekaran, an orthopaedic surgeon. The court had said that the absence of traffic signals, a foot overbridge and other safety measures on the busy road posed a risk to the lives of people crossing it.