M.K.Thakur v. The Lt. Governor And Another

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

[CIRCUIT BENCH AT PORT BLAIR] *** WPA(P)/5/2024 M.K.Thakur Vs The Lieutenant Governor and others Mr. M.K.Thakur ... petitioner (in person) Mr. Shatadru Chakraborty Mr. Dibesh Dwivedi ...

for the respondent Nos.1&2 Mr. Babita Das ... for the respondent no.3 August 30, 2024 [SR] Item No.1 In this public interest litigation, the petitioner has challenged the decision of Superintendent of Police (Traffic), South Andaman at Port Blair to make the link roads from Mitali Book Store to RBV Junction and Opposite Chennai Store to Maruti Agency House Junction as one way.

The observation to make these two roads for one way traffic was reported in the Daily Telegrams a English Newspaper of circulation at Port Blair on 26th June, 2024. It is the case of the petitioner that the road is 8.5 mtrs wide and should remain operative for two way traffic. According to the petitioner, these two roads were decided to be made for one way traffic to use a portion of the said roads for parking facility.

The matter was taken up on 29th August, 2024 when, on a query from Court, the learned advocate appearing on behalf of the Administration submitted, on instruction, that no notification has been issued for making the said two roads restricted for one way traffic. However, on a trial basis for a few days, this method was adopted to check the feasibility. At present, according to the learned advocate for the Administration, the road is operational for two way traffic.

In view of such submission, we adjourned the matter to enable the petitioner, who is also a learned advocate of this Court, to personally visit and ascertain the present position of the two roads.

Today, it is submitted by the petitioner that, on his visit on 29th August, 2024 evening, he has found that the roads are open for two way traffic.

In the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the present writ petition has become infructuous. The writ

petition is, therefore, disposed of without any order as to costs.

It is, however, made clear that, in the event the Administration decides to make the aforesaid two roads operational for one way traffic, they should take into consideration the difficulties that may be faced by the commuters if the said two roads are made operational for one way traffic and a portion thereof is used for parking vehicles.

( Arindam Mukherjee, J. ) ( Biswaroop Chowdhury, J.)