- (1.) This writ petition has been filed as a Public Interest Litigation where the petitioner has stated the facts regarding several vehicular accidents that occurred essentially for plying of overloaded vehicles, especially jeeps; and has prayed for the following reliefs:- 10. That in these facts and circumstances the Petitioner prays that the state Government may be called upon to frame a policy so as to ensure - 10/i. That the Jeeps are not permitted to be used for commercial purpose; 10/ii. That even if licence for commercial purposes is sought the Jeeps should be ordered to be oriented in a manner which may not carry large number of passengers. 10/iii. That severe punishment be imposed upon those Jeep owners and drivers who take more than the permitted number of passengers in the Jeep. Prayed accordingly.
(2.) After submission of reply pursuant to the notice issued in this matter, on 30.10.2007, this Court took note of the prevailing situation and directed the State Government to submit an action plan so as to provide for installation of close-circuit cameras on the roads where such illegal or heavy loaded passengers vehicles were plied; and for periodical examination of the datas procured from such cameras and for taking of' strong action against delinquent vehicles.
(3.) Thereafter, on 14.02.2008, this Court noticed from the compliance report filed on behalf of the respondents that certain measures had been taken by the State authorities to control overloading so far as the jeeps and passenger buses were concerned and to some extent they had been able to control the same by launching prosecution and seizing the vehicles. However, while putting a note of caution that the State authorities should be more alert to keep on checking the vehicles all over the State, this Court granted time to the counsel for the petitioner to complete his instructions.;