CHANDIGARH, JULY 19: For bringing on record the stand of Punjab and Haryana governments, besides the programme for implementing the directions in the traffic regulation and pollution control case, the High Court today asked the Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of the two states, along with the Adviser to the UT Administrator and the Inspector General of Police here, to "be present in the court on the next date of hearing".Pronouncing the directions in the open court, Justice Swatanter Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court held: "I consider it in the interest of justice and desirable that" the authorities "be present in the court". Justice Kumar further held: "Realising the high offices these authorities possess, I would consider it appropriate that on July 26, the matter would be taken up in the chamber at 3.30 p.m."Justice Kumar observed: "It will be in larger public interest to dispose of all the pending applications before the court, and that the stand of each government as well as the implementation programme be brought on record so that the matter may finally come to an end".Regarding the implementation of the order, Justice Kumar observed: "It can hardly be disputed that a major part of the directions, stay against which has been vacated by the Supreme Court, are not being implemented in entirety. Public interest and public good must prevail over the administrative routines and definite steps must be taken by the concerned governments and administration without fail and as expeditiously as possible".Justice Kumar further observed: "In fact the Administration had hardly raised any objection to the compliance of these orders. It is a matter of regret that nearly a year has passed but no steps have been taken. Violations of the directions are visible on the roads and need no evidence".The High Court, in the order pronounced on July 9 last year, had made helmets compulsory for both men and women riders and those on the pillion. Persons wearing turbans had, however, been granted exemption.The Court had further ordered the demolition of two shops constructed on the road in Sector 24 and the restoration of the road to the original as they were an hindrance to the free flow of traffic.
