Other States - Orissa   

HC notice to State Transport Authority

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Friday came down heavily on striking and adamant autorickshaw owners’ association, warned the State Transport Authority and urged the parents of school kids travelling to schools dangerously in autorickshaws to act consciously.

The High Court also issued show-cause notice to STA as to why contempt proceedings against him shall not be initiated for not carrying out the court’s order properly.

These reprimands from HC came while adjudicating over the PIL pertaining to civic issues in Cuttack city. The HC last time had taken a serious note of the manner in which school kids are transported in autorickshaws to schools. The HC had asked the STA to sensitize the stakeholders and launch an awareness drive before taking stringent action against the erring autorickshaw drivers.

Acting upon these orders, the STA began impounding the autorickshaws carrying school kids dangerously. At least four erring vehicles were impounded following which the vehicle owners had boycotted carrying school kids on Friday while their association had approached the HC to recall its earlier order.

Rejecting the plea of the vehicle owners, the bench of Justice B P Das and Justice M M Das on the day warned the association not to challenge the authority of law. “Court cannot sanction anything which is not permissible under law”, the bench said.

The bench further said: “Parents should consciously move as law will prevail over sentiments”. Those who would try to restrain to enforce the law, they shall be dealt with severely and the police shall be directed to take action, the bench warned.

When the learned amicus curiae informed the court that the court’s previous order had not been properly implemented by the STA, the HC with a strong warning asked the STA to sensitise the people about its order in next three days.

The STA was also asked to file an affidavit stating how many autorickshaws are plying in the city and inform whether there is a need to ban further registration of the three-wheelers.

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