Advertise top traffic cops’ numbers: Bombay HC

Mumbai: The Bombay high court pulled up the state government for failing to manage and administer traffic in the city. The HC said that the DCP and Joint CP of traffic department will have to advertise their mobile numbers so that people can lodge complaints about the traffic violations and corruption of traffic police personnel. The court said that this will help in taking prompt action.

Earlier, the HC was informed that people had sent photographs and videos to traffic police authorities from across the state, alleging corruption by traffic police personnel. However, the police had taken action against only 15 police constables — while two police constables were sacked, 13 others were suspended. According to the court, the police action was not sufficient  

A division bench of Justice S.C. Dharmadhikari and Justice Bharti Dangre was hearing PIL filed by Sunil Toke, a traffic police constable who sacked from the service. He has levelled allegations of corruption against traffic police department.

On Wednesday, the high court rapped the traffic police personnel for talking on mobile phone while on duty. “At every nook and corner of the city, one can see these constables standing, playing or talking on their phone or chatting with each other. That seems to be their prime duty. The incidental duty is manning the traffic,” it said.

The court added this amounts to gross misconduct, and appropriate action should be taken against such personnel.

The bench said, “The traffic policemen are on the spot to manage the traffic, but now it seems we need someone to keep a watch on them to see if they are performing their duties. This is gross misconduct of duty, and appropriate action should be initiated.”