HC directs civic authorites, police to file report on parking

Observing that the inability to control hawkers and police helplessness will only indicate that the law and order machinery is not working, the Madras High Court today directed the authorities concerned to file a fresh joint compliance report on the issue of parking space provided by restaurants and hotels in the city, on October 6.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan passed the interim order on the PIL by one Raghu, seeking to cancel the licenses of the hotels and restaurants which do not have parking place.
After going through the joint compliance report filed earlier by both the Chennai Corporation and the City Traffic Police, the bench said, "We find no problem in the same as such practices occur world over."

While concurring with petitioner's counsel that car parking should not be a mere formality, but should actually serve its purpose, the bench said, "The petitioner is right in contending that it is an aspect to be monitored by the traffic police."
Taking note of the re-encroachment of hawkers, the bench said, "We also make it clear that we will not countenance any suggestions of inability to control the hawkers who seek to come back on the pavements as the police cannot express helplessness."
"If the police are worried to do so, it will show that the law and order machinery is not working."

Recording the submission of the Additional Advocate General Manishanker, the bench said, "AAG stated that Car Parking Space is made available for restaurants though some of them may be at a distance.This of course is a natural consequence of area being crowded."
It then said, the joint compliance report should not be two reports combined into one having two parts, but a joint compliance report in its true sense, and posted the matter for further compliance to October 6.