Haryana Human Rights Commission Emphasizes Road Safety as a Fundamental Right
Road Safety and Human Rights
Chandigarh, Jan 16: The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken a strong position on road safety, asserting that the safe use of public roads is a fundamental aspect of the right to life as enshrined in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
The Commission highlighted that deficiencies in road infrastructure are not just administrative oversights but constitute a violation of human rights.
During a recent hearing, the full Commission, led by Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra, noted that there are ongoing issues regarding the responsibilities of various departments for road signage, thermoplastic markings, cat-eyes, dividers, and other safety features. Consequently, the Commission has requested detailed and updated reports from all relevant authorities, including the NHAI, PWD, Haryana State Roads and Bridges Development Corporation (HSRDC), and Urban Local Bodies.
In its order, the Commission referred to the duties of the Additional Director General of Police for Traffic and Highways, as well as the Karnal Police Department, emphasizing that it is the state's constitutional obligation to safeguard the lives and safety of its citizens.
The traffic police play a vital role in this responsibility, which includes regulating traffic effectively, enforcing traffic laws, preventing reckless driving, and identifying accident-prone areas. The Commission has mandated that the police take decisive action against offenders and pinpoint hazardous road sections.
To enhance road safety, the Commission has directed the proper development and ongoing maintenance of central verges and dividers on major roads throughout Haryana, particularly on wide and multi-lane roads. It has called for the installation of sufficient cat-eyes and retro-reflective road studs at appropriate intervals to ensure clear lane markings, especially at night. For roads with six or more lanes, delineators should be placed on both sides of the central divider for better visibility and guidance for drivers.
Commission Assistant Registrar Puneet Arora stated that the Commission's orders affirm that citizens' right to safely use public roads is an integral part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
He emphasized that ensuring safe road infrastructure is not just an administrative duty but a crucial human rights issue. Any failure in this area negatively impacts citizens' rights to safely navigate public roads.
All relevant authorities have been instructed to provide compliance reports, complete with photographic documentation, at least one week prior to the next hearing scheduled for April 9.