Hoshiarpur 14 December 2023- The issue of Jugaru motor cycle rickshaws is not leaving the Punjab government. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, while hearing the petition filed by RTI activist Parvinder Singh Kitna through advocate HC Arora, has imposed a fine of 50 thousand on the RTO of Hoshiarpur.
It is to be mentioned here that ADGP Traffic of Punjab Police had issued a letter on 18th April 2022 and asked to conduct a special campaign to take action against Jugadu motorcycle rickshaw pullers. Another letter was issued on 23/04/2022 not to act on this letter due to unnecessary opposition by some politicians, owners of these vehicles and their supporters. In which it was asked that the practice mentioned in the first letter should be stopped until further orders. It was also written that the public should be made aware that as per the orders of the Motor Vehicle Act, the Supreme Court and the Punjab and Haryana High Court, such vehicles/roads should not be built and run because they are illegal.
RTI activist Parvinder Singh Kitna sent a legal notice to the Punjab government through advocate HC Arora and demanded to take action on the first letter instead of the second letter issued by ADGP Traffic. But as the government did not take any action, they filed a public interest petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Recently, while disposing of another petition along with this public interest petition, the High Court, using strict words, said that the opposition parties are dusting off the gongs instead of following the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 and the rules. The photographs attached to the petition show that the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act are being violated and the steps being taken by the state are not sufficient.
Due to this, there has been a threat to the safety of people's lives and property. On the other hand, the authorities are thinking in a different way that people have to earn their living but no law can be violated in exchange for some difficulties. Illegal and overloaded vehicles cause road accidents and fatal accidents. Economic compulsion cannot justify permission to violate the rules of a sanctioned vehicle.
The court said that such laxity of the state has been seen earlier in the case of Driver's Union Samana v. State of Punjab.
The High Court has ordered the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority Hoshiarpur and Secretary Regional Transport Authority Patiala to deposit fifty thousand rupees in the 'Fund for poor patients' of PGI Chandigarh. Along with this, the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 and the rules made thereunder shall be enforced. has also asked to take effective steps to Apart from this, law enforcement agencies should be informed against overloaded or oversize vehicles as per the law, process of challaning or confiscation of such vehicles should be initiated.