MP High Court Asks Authorities To Examine Road Safety Suggestions By Former RAS Officer

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notice on a public interest litigation concerning road safety issues, filed by a retired officer of the Rajasthan Administrative Service. The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf, after recording the submission, allowed the petitioner to file detailed suggestions regarding potential measures to improve road safety. The bench observed;"The petitioner who appears in person submits that he has prepared detailed suggestions for improving quality of roads as well as ensuring road safety measures to be taken at all levels. Petitioner is permitted to file his suggestions within a period of one week with copy to learned counsel appearing for respondents who shall thereafter have the same examined by the respective expert bodies and submit a report to the Court".The bench thus directed; "It is noticed that respondent No.1/Union of India has arrayed through the Chairman, National Highways Authority of India. Petitioner is directed to amend the memo of parties and Union of India be arrayed through Secretary through Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways. Issue notice. Notice is accepted by the learned counsel appearing for respondent No.1 and 6 as also by respondents No.2 to 5". The petition was filed by Mahavir Singh, who served as Officer-In-Charge of the Road Safety War Room within the Department of Transport and Road Safety at the Government Secretariat, Rajasthan. The petition states that road accidents majorly occur due to overspeeding and rash driving, including driving in the wrong direction without road safety guards and helmets. The petition also refers to the driving hazard caused by the occupancy of roads by cattle and also by median cuts on national and state Highways, among other reasons. The petition particularly focuses on the median cuts in Highways and illegal access through slip lands and service lanes, stating that the same should be prevented.The petition further states that drunk driving should be curbed by performing Breathalyser tests from 6 to 9 PM in accident-prone areas. The petition also refers to the issue of accidents caused by heavy vehicles, stating that medical examination should be conducted by employers and that driving for more than 8 hours a day without compulsory stoppage every 2 to 3 hours. In the hearing, the court granted the petitioner, appearing in person, to submit detailed suggestions for improving the road safety issues. The case was listed for July 6, 2026, along with WP No. 4435 of 2026, Ashish Shivhare v State of Madhya Pradesh. Case Title: Mahavir Singh v Chairman NHAI and others, WP-3729-2026For Union: Deputy Solicitor General S.M. GuruFor State: Deputy Advocate General Vivek SharmaClick here to read/download the Order

MP High Court Asks Authorities To Examine Road Safety Suggestions By Former RAS Officer

Jayanti Pahwa

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