'No Vehicle Day Not A Bad Idea', Says Kerala High Court But Questions Lakshadweep's Choice Of Wednesday For Traffic Ban

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (March 5) orally remarked that one day per week where vehicles are not plied is not a bad idea but the Wednesday might not ideal since it is a working day. Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. was considering a public interest litigation challenging the 'No Vehicle Wednesday' order recently passed by the Lakshadweep Administration."You can cut down on the number of vehicles plying on a particular day. But Wednesday may not be a correct day because it is a working day. But this is not a bad idea at all. So you come up with suggestions, and even if you say No Vehicle Day, how you have taken care of the persons who may not be mobile…It's not like you are confining everyone to home. It's not the idea. But what you propose, you can give an idea," the Justice Sen remarked.Justice Sen also recollected another matter which he had considered while sitting as a junior judge in a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court where he suggested a similar solution:"In fact, that was my suggestion when I was a rather young judge sitting in the Division Bench sitting with Justice Ghosh in Calcutta. One day should be No Vehicle Day. It was my suggestion to the government. To keep us more healthier we can all walk down the streets. Without having any noise, vehicle coming in between. It's a good thing, no vehicle day."When the matter came up today, the Standing Counsel for the Lakshadweep Administration brought to the noticing of the Court another plea raising similar issues that is pending consideration before the Single Bench. It was also pointed out that he had made an undertaking was made therein that the 'No Vehicle Wednesday' will not be implemented till the end of Ramzan.Recording the submission, the Court tagged the afore plea with the present PIL and posted it after 2 weeks. In the interim order passed, it was observed that the Administration can come up with suggestions to implement such a No Vehicle Day while taking into consideration all the aspects.The matter is posted to March 19 for further consideration.The petition is moved by Advocates Reena Sharon Suresh and K.P.S. Suresh.Case No: WP(PIL) No. 43/2026Case Title: Angel Sharon v. UT of LakshadweepClick to Read/Download Order

'No Vehicle Day Not A Bad Idea', Says Kerala High Court But Questions Lakshadweep's Choice Of Wednesday For Traffic Ban

K. Salma Jennath

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