The Hindu : Fish-carts continue to ply in violation of court order

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Fish-carts continue to ply in violation of court order

By Saptarshi Bhattacharya

CHENNAI APRIL 14. In what could be viewed as contempt of court in the context of the High Court injunction against operation of fish-carts plying on city roads, a fish-cart carrying hardware materials and long pipes knocked down a 51-year old man at Thirumangalam junction today.

According to family sources, Amar Hinduja was knocked down by the speeding fish cart at the junction aroung 2 p.m. He suffered multiple fractures of his shin bone. A passerby noticed him lying on the road and rushed him to a nearby private hospital. The fish-cart involved in the accident was coming from Mogappair High Road and after hitting the victim, sped off towards Koyambedu. Police have been declaring that fish-carts are off the city roads after the Madras High Court admitted a Public Interest Litigation on the threat to road safety caused by these vehicles which are motorised but have no legal status to use the road, and passed an interim injunction.

However, they continue to be operated at several places, in violation of the court order. The Police, though witness to the operations, prefer to ignore it despite the legal implications. The Mambalam Madley Road subway vegetable trade, Saidapet area from the bazaar in the East, along Jones Road and into Jaffarkhanpet, waste paper shops on United India Colony Third Main Road (Kodambakkam), and parts of North and West Chennai have witnessed the reappearance of fish carts.

Since these vehicles have no insurance, those like Amar Hinduja would have to shell out tens of thousands of rupees from their purse to meet medical expenses, a situation in which the City Traffic Police is directly liable but prefers not to get involved.

Road safety activists point out that if the fish-cart drivers are prosecuted under criminal law and awarded penalties, such instances would come down. In most motor vehicle cases, the victims do not pursue the criminal liability of the drivers, and only look forward to compensation, while the Police also do not press ahead with criminal prosecution.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Fish-carts continue to ply in violation of court order

Truckers' strike pushes vegetable prices up

Diamond rings stolen from jewellery shop

Burglars strike at Perambur house

Now, a cable TV service at Rs. 60 a month

Semmalai releases books