Indore Truck Rampage: MP High Court Asks State About Road Safety & Traffic Regulation Measures Adopted After SC Directions

Taking note of Supreme Court's comprehensive directions regarding road safety and traffic regulation, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday (October 10) directed the State Government to file an affidavit listing what measures are being taken to comply with the apex court's order. The court passed the order while hearing a suo-motu plea initiated regarding an incident where reportedly a truck entered a residential area of Indore from Kalani Nagar Square to Bada Ganpati Square, during peak traffic hours. The accident led to the death of three people, injuring 35 people and 12 with grievous injuries.For context, the Supreme Court had on October 7, issued a slew of directions aimed at strengthening road safety measures across the country, incuding strict enforcement of helmet use, and measures to curb wrong-lane driving, unsafe overtaking, use of dazzling LED lights, and the unauthorised sale and misuse of red–blue strobe lights and hooters.During today's hearing, the high court asked whether the CCTV footage of the cameras installed at the entry of the residential area, as directed in the last hearing, was produced on record. However, the State informed the court that there was no CCTV camera at the entry, but now one camera has been installed. A key concern was raised by the Amicus Curiae concerning the failure of the District Committee to meet regularly as mandated, suggesting that an independent committee should be constituted under the guidance and supervision of this court. However, a division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf noted that the Supreme Court had already passed sufficient directions, and orally said:"You see, there are two things- either keep harping about what has happened or what lapses have taken in the past. That won't solve the problem. Probably, we have to move forward. Now, Supreme Court has also issued directions. We'll ask them what steps they are taking in terms of the direction... Once the Supreme Court has directed constitution of a committee, why will we interfere?". The bench also said that it would leave it to the authorities to determine whether to continue with the existing committee or form a new one, urging proactive steps from the concerned authorities. "We are leaving it to the authorities to consider whether it will be the same committee or a different committee needs to be considered. We are leaving it entirely to your discretion and we are expecting the authorities to take a proactive step. We are not, at this stage, we are not pointing a finger, we don't want to say, comment on a committee. We still don't have a report. But we would expect that Supreme Court orders are strictly complied and efforts are taken, steps are taken to ensure this doesn't reoccur," it said.The high court in its order directed the State to file in their "affidavit, as to what steps are being taken by the respondents in terms of the direction issued by the Supreme Court". The case was listed for November 10.Case Title: In Reference Suo Motu PIL v The State of Madhya Pradesh (WP no 37620 of 2025)

Indore Truck Rampage: MP High Court Asks State About Road Safety & Traffic Regulation Measures Adopted After SC Directions

Jayanti Pahwa

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