S.S.SARON, J. - (1.) Heard learned counsel for the petitioner at considerable length.
(2.) The Public Interest Litigation has been filed by the petitioner - Arrive Safe Society ('Society' - for short) for directing the respective State Governments, i.e. State of Haryana, State of Punjab and also the National Highway Authority of India ('NHAI' - for short) (respondents No. 1 to 3), for fixing accountability of the officials concerned of the Public Works Department (Buildings and Roads) of Haryana, Punjab and NHAI and prosecuting them under Section 304-A/336 Indian Penal Code ('IPC' - for short) since they have failed to follow the prescribed Government manuals (Annexures P-5 and P-6) or any other manual available/applicable, in order to ensure that the roads and bridges are constructed as per their own guidelines and provide safe travelling to the commuters and because of whose negligence hundreds of innocent lives were being lost as would be apparent from photos (Annexure P-7/colly.) and report published by Government of India (Annexure P-8).
(3.) During pendency of the petition, Civil Misc. Application No.9251 of 2016 was filed by the petitioner in terms of Order 6, Rule 17 read with Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure for amendment/modification of the prayer in the writ petition. By way of amendment, it is prayed that a mandamus be issued to the respective State Governments directing them for creating a system/mechanism for fixing accountability of the officials concerned of the Public Works Departments (Buildings and Roads) of Haryana, Punjab and NHAI for any road accident occurring due to faulty/poor road infrastructure and missing safety norms on roads and bridges, and take appropriate action in accordance with law against the erring officials in order to ensure that the roads and bridges are constructed as per their own guidelines and because of whose negligence many innocent lives were being lost daily, as would be apparent from photos (Annexure P-7/colly.) and report published by the Government of India (Annexure P-8). It is further prayed for fixing the accountability of the erring officials and compelling them to adequately compensate the hapless victims of such accident from their own funds/salary within a fixed time period.;