Authority: High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi

Order Date: 29 September 2026

Case Overview

  • Petition: Public‑interest writ petition (W.P. No. 4534 of 2021) filed by Achyut Swaroop Mishra against the State of Jharkhand, Deputy Commissioner Hazaribagh, Superintendent of Police Hazaribagh, and Municipal Commissioner Hazaribagh Municipal Corporation.
  • Issue: Chaotic traffic situation in Hazaribagh, lacking traffic‑light monitoring, functional CCTV, adequate parking, and enforcement of traffic rules, leading to fatal collisions at Barkagaon More and Kargil Chowk.
  • History: Petition instituted in 2021; multiple interim orders and inspections, including appointment of Advocate Commissioner Prashant Pallav (order dated 11‑07‑2024) whose report confirmed severe traffic management deficiencies.
  • Respondents’ initial denial and blame‑shifting between police and municipal authorities; subsequent affidavits promised remedial steps but implementation remained piecemeal.
  • Court‑directed stakeholder meetings resulted in a municipal action plan (dated 25‑08‑2025) proposing a Rs 38.64 crore traffic monitoring system, later deemed disproportionate.
  • Police personnel strength increased from 35 to 212 (supplementary affidavit 24‑06‑2025); additional 20 personnel deployed at key chowks (affidavit 26‑02‑2026).
  • Fines collected: Rs 42,26,200 for unauthorized parking; total traffic‑violation revenue Rs 10,87,22,661 for helmet, seat‑belt, tinted‑glass, and reckless‑driving violations.
  • Municipal Corporation abandoned the Rs 38.64 crore proposal, tendered and entered into a contract with M/s. Keyhole Design Private Limited on 19‑08‑2026 for supply, installation, testing, and trial run of an Automated Traffic Light Management System valued at approximately Rs 2.68 crore.
  • Anti‑Encroachment Task Force (Memo No. 53, 17‑01‑2026) cleared Trimurti Chowk, relocated vendors, and surveyed vending zones under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
  • Additional municipal memos (Nos. 2997 & 2998, 10‑09‑2025) cleared designated parking sites in coordination with police and transport officials.
  • High Court observed continued laxity in implementation despite progress and emphasized constitutional duties under Articles 21 and 19(1)(d) and statutory obligations under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Municipal Corporation Act, Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, and Street Vendors Act, 2014.

Final Outcome

The Court issued comprehensive directions, summarized below:

1. Traffic Light System: Municipal Commissioner to ensure completion of the Keyhole Design contract and operational trial within four months; trial to cover twenty major intersections (list provided).

2. Signalisation Outside Scope: Municipal Commissioner to state in compliance affidavit any proposed signalisation, cost, timeline, or engineering justification.

3. Joint Completion Certificate: Signed by Municipal Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, and Executive Engineer, to be attached to compliance affidavit.

4. Zebra Markings & Signage: Must be included in the certificate.

5. Monitoring & Maintenance Team: Three‑member team (Assistant Engineer, Traffic Police Inspector, contractor representative) to be formed within three weeks; maintain daily downtime log; restore any signal dark/stuck beyond 48 hours within next 48 hours and report reasons.

6. CCTV Inventory: Within two months, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to file joint inventory of all CCTV cameras installed since 2017, indicating functionality, storage, AMC status; non‑functional cameras to be repaired/replaced within four months; integrate 2026 contract cameras with Police Control Room.

7. Peak‑Hour Police Deployment Chart: Superintendent of Police to file chart for 08:00‑11:00 and 16:00‑20:00 at each of the twenty intersections, naming accountable officer.

8. Traffic Personnel Training: Minimum three‑day programme within three months, coordinated with District Legal Services Authority, Hazaribagh.

9. Heavy Vehicle Restriction: Prohibit entry of heavy/commercial goods vehicles into municipal limits 08:00‑20:00 except essential services; no unlawful entry fee; joint order with sketch of cordon within four weeks; departmental action for violations.

10. Parking Space Mapping: Within three months, Municipal Commissioner to file authenticated map of designated/free parking spaces with date‑stamped photographs, keep spaces free of vending, issue notices under Jharkhand Municipal Act, 2012 for establishments lacking off‑street parking on PTC Chowk–Korrah Chowk stretch.

11. Street Vendor Zones Survey: Deputy Commissioner and Municipal Commissioner to complete survey and notification of vending/non‑vending zones under Street Vendors Act, 2014 within four months, including zone near Sadar Hospital if feasible.

12. Encroachment Removal: Clear encroachments on footpaths, junctions, zebra crossings, carriageways per law; re‑occupation to be prosecuted under Section 606 of Jharkhand Municipal Act, 2012.

13. Noise‑Pollution Silence Zones: Within two months, notify silence zones of at least 100 m around Civil Court complex, major hospitals (Sadar, Arogyam), and educational institutions (St. Columba's College, Carmel School); Superintendent of Police to enforce and report monthly on horn and unauthorised amplification.

14. Bus Terminal Land Survey: Deputy Commissioner to place on record status of land for a bypass bus terminal and relocation of old bus stand, with routing plan for autos/e‑rickshaws, within four months.

15. Personal Compliance Affidavits: Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, and Municipal Commissioner each to file personal affidavit covering clauses (i)‑(xv) within four months; affidavits not to be sworn by subordinate officers.

16. Service of Affidavits: Copies of personal affidavits to be served on petitioner within one week of filing.

The petition is disposed of without any order for costs; pending interim applications are dismissed.

Topics: Traffic Management, Municipal Governance, Judicial Directions