The Delhi High Court today sought response of the Centre on a plea which alleged that culprits, who resort to violent behaviour on roads, cannot be brought to book easily due to lacune in law and sought strict punishment for them.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also issued notice to the Delhi Police on the plea by a law student, who urged the court to "give proper definition of road rage" and make it a non-bailable and cognisable offence.
The plea said that there should be provision for rigorous imprisonment when "the magnitude of harshness exceeds to despicable levels".
The court has now fixed the matter for November 20, when the authorities have to place their stand.
Delhi University's second year law student Anubhav Gupta moved the court, saying "no specific statute is there to deal with the problem of road rage".
"Statutes are there to deal with the consequences of rage only when it increases to despicable and abominable levels," he submitted.
The central government standing counsel Anil Soni contended that there are several provisions in the IPC and the Motor Vehicle Act, which cover road rage.
However, the court was of the view that it was a "serious issue" and government needs to place its stand.
Highlighting the increasing menace of road rage in the country, the plea urged the court to "give proper definition of road rage which is presently a lacuna in the law".
It said that there should be guidelines which "act as deterrent to possible offenders".
"The offence of road rage should be made non-bailable, cognisable and serve with rigorous imprisonment when the magnitude of harshness exceeds to despicable levels. Exemplary penal fines should be levied on offenders," the plea said.
It sought that there should be strict liability under section 355 (assault) of IPC.
The petitioner also said that the Delhi Police and all other authorities concerned should be directed to take preventive steps so that drivers do not resort to violent behaviour on the roads/streets/ highways of the city and keep their cool.
The central government should impart and inculcate awareness among people on hazards and consequences of road rage, the plea added.
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