1 2026:CGHC:1645-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPPIL No. 2 of 2024 In The Matter Of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation Regarding News Item Namely, Nehru Chowk Par Red Signal Jump Karte Samay Ambulance Palti, Video Aaya Samne, Publised In Daily News Paper Dhainik Bhaskar, Bilaspur Bhaskar, Dated 04 January, 2024. ... Petitioner versus 1 - The State of Chhattisgarh Through Chief Secretary, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 2 - State of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Health And Social Welfare Department, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur, (C.G.) 3 - Secretary Transport Department, Govt. of Chhattisgarh, Nava Raipur (C.G.) 4 - Director General of Police Police Headquarter, Sector-19, Nava Raipur (C.G.) 5 - Transport Commissioner Block C, 3rd Floor, Indravati Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur, State of C.G. 6 - Director Health Services, Indravati Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur (C.G.) 7 - The Collector Bilaspur, District Bilaspur (C.G.) 8 - Superintendent of Police Bilaspur, District Bilaspur (C.G.) 9 - The Secretary Urban Administration State of Chhattisgarh, New Raipur. 10 - Divisional Railway Manager Bilaspur, District - Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, (Added As Per Honble Court Order Dated 11.04.2025) ... Respondents (Cause-title taken from Case Information System) _________________________________________________________ For Petitioner : None For State/Respondent(s) : Mr. Prasun Bhaduri, Dy. Advocate General For Respondent No.10/ : Mr. Ramakant Mishra, Dy. Solicitor General Railways ROHIT KUMAR CHANDRA Digitally signed by ROHIT KUMAR CHANDRA 2 Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Ravindra Kumar Agrawal , Judge Order on Board Per Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice 1 2 .0 1 .202 6 1. This is an office reference. 2. Heard Mr. Prasun Bhaduri, learned Deputy Advocate General, appearing for the State/ respondent Nos. 1 to 9 as well as Mr.Ramakant Mishra, learned Deputy Solicitor General, appearing for the Railways/ respondent No.10. 3. The present Public Interest Litigation was registered after this Court took suo moto cognizance of a news report published on 04.01.2024 in Hindi Daily, namely ‘Dainik Bhaskar’ wherein it was been reported that an ambulance carrying a patient over-turned which was crossing the Nehru Chowk after jumping the red signal. While the driver of the Ambulance sustained fracture in his hand, the patient who was being carried, also sustained simple injuries. According to the news report, the Ambulance over turned as some vehicle hit the rear end of the Ambulance. There had been number of reports earlier also in various news papers with regard to the traffic congestion in all the big cities of the State. 4. The Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh, Superintendent of Police, Bilaspur and Collector, Bilaspur, were directed to file their personal affidavit indicating as to what steps they have taken to 3 streamline the traffic situation prevailing and also inform this Court with regard to the proper management of traffic signals in the entire city of Bilaspur. They were further directed to indicate in their affidavits as to how the movement of Ambulance, Fire Trucks and other vehicles involved in emergency services were being handled, whether they are given any kind of priority while passing through the traffic signals. 5. In compliance of the Court’s order, the DGP of the State as well as Collector, Bilapur had filed their respective affidavits. From perusal of the affidavit filed by the DGP of the State it transpired that though there were rules framed vide order dated 08.07.2016 with respect of movement of heavy vehicles within the city, but the same were not adequately implemented and the heavy vehicle had to pass through bypass road and a proposal for amending these directions had been forwarded to the appropriate authority, but the said amendment were still to be brought on record, therefore, vide order dated 18.01.2024, the Secretary, Urban Administration was directed to be arrayed as respondent No.9 and was directed to file his personal affidavit as to what steps he has taken in coordination with the directions which were given on 08.07.2016 and further the amendment which were proposed in that regard. 6. In compliance of the Court’s order dated 18.01.2024, Secretary, Urban Administration & Development, Raipur has filed an affidavit. From perusal of the same, it transpired that keeping in view the 4 traffic congestion in the city of Bilaspur, the competent authorities had been issuing necessary instructions to the concerned authorities and they also personally visited the busy market areas and public places to take stock of the traffic condition. In compliance of the instructions so issued, various steps had been taken to ensure smooth running of vehicles in Bilaspur District. The authorities were also taking action under the Motor Vehicles Act like imposing fine and lifting the vehicles wrongly parked, to improve the traffic condition. 7. The Integrated Command and Control Center is keeping an eye on the traffic movement of the entire city through CCTV cameras along with the Traffic Police personnel present on the spot. The Integrated Command and Control Center is connected with the traffic signals. Any violation of traffic rules are recorded in the Intelligent Traffic Management System and is stored for at least 30 days. The Traffic Police are present in Integrated Command and Control Center to review the violation of traffic rules and issue E-challans to the owners of the vehicles. Similarly, any violation of traffic rules during red light is announced and the violator is given warning instantly. The public address system integrated with the traffic management system is also used for making important announcement such as closure of the roads or of mass gathering of people. The general public is also made aware of the traffic rules through public address system. 8. It has been noticed that despite several efforts being made by the 5 traffic police the congestion in the city of Bilaspur with respect to the smooth flow of traffic appears to be hampered and further it has been noticed that the bifurcation of entry to the city through Pendradih Bypass there is an encroachment by the encroachers which is against the smooth flow of the traffic as well as the environmental condition and further it would also result in future to become a place for public disturbance. Hence, vide order dated 11.12.2024, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Bilaspur was directed to ensure that there may not be any unfortunate incident of any kind and he should file an affidavit regarding the same. 9. In compliance of the Court’s order dated 11.12.2024, an affidavit was filed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Bilaspur from perusal of said affidavit, it appeared that encroachment by the encroachers which has been made at the bifurcation of entry to city through Pendridih Bypass was removed and the area in question was also got cleaned-up. Further the encroachments which were made from Mandir Chowk Chouraha to Railway Overbridge on both sides have also been removed. 10. On 19.03.2025, two news items were published, one in Times of India, Raipur Edition and another in Dainik Bhaskar, Bilaspur Edition, with headings “Tribal Man’s 11-Hr wait for ambulance ends in 4-hr delay for hearse” and another being “Vsªu esa lQj dj jgh dSalj ihfMr efgyk dh ekSr] ,acqysal ds bartkj esa 1 ?kaVs iM+k jgk 6 'ko”, respectively. As such, the Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, was directed to file his personal affidavit in the matter with regard to the lapses on the part of the authorities in providing the ambulance facility to the patient whose family had been making repeated requests. The Secretary was further directed to inform this Court with respect to payment of compensation, if any. On the next date of hearing i.e. on 11.04.2025, the Secretary was further directed to file his personal affidavit indicating as to whether the State intended to give any compensation to the family members of the patient or not. The Divisional Railway Manager, Bilaspur was also directed to file his personal affidavit as to why the services of Ambulance was not provided to the woman who died because of cancer while travelling in the train and her dead body was lying unattended in the platform for an hour. The Secretary concerned had informed the Court that a penalty of Rs. 2,21,783/- was imposed upon the service provider. It was further informed to this Court that since the whereabouts of the cancer patient could not be ascertained, the compensation amount of Rs. 1 Lac was deposited in favour of the Regional Cancer Centre, Raipur. 11. This matter came to be listed on various occasions thereafter viz. 28.04.2025, 28.07.2025, 28.08.2025, 25.09.2025 and 28.10.2025 wherein this Court had made various queries to the authorities of the State as well as the Railways which were duly replied to by filing their respective affidavits. 7 12. A perusal of the affidavits filed by the respondent authorities, it transpires that no new incident relating to the issues involved in the present PIL has come to the knowledge of this Court and as per the learned State counsel, the authorities are keeping a watch over the traffic situation so as to minimize any untoward incident. 13. In view of the foregoing discussion and the affidavits filed by the respondent authorities, this Court expects and trusts that the authorities concerned, who are at the helm of affairs, shall continue to take all necessary, effective and timely measures to ensure proper traffic management and to prevent recurrence of any such unfortunate incidents as have been noticed in the present petition. 14. Accordingly, this petition stands disposed of. However, in the event of any future lapse or recurrence of similar incidents, it shall be open to this Court to revive the present petition or take such further action as may be deemed appropriate in accordance with law. Sd/- Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) (Ramesh Sinha) Judge Chief Justice Chandra