The Bombay High Court has ruled that abandoned or seized vehicles must not block public spaces in Mumbai. Authorities must ensure strict and ongoing disposal of such vehicles.
Mumbai: Today, On Monday May 19, The Bombay High Court has made it clear that Mumbai’s overcrowded streets cannot be used as dumping grounds for abandoned vehicles anymore.
The Court has passed a firm order directing all police stations in Mumbai to strictly follow the traffic police’s rules for dealing with such abandoned vehicles.
The decision came from a division bench of Justice G. S. Kulkarni and Justice Advait Sethna. The bench observed that just moving the vehicles to dumping yards is not enough.
There must be continuous and active efforts to get rid of these vehicles properly.
The judges pointed out that the mere act of transferring these vehicles to dumping locations does not solve the problem; proper disposal is necessary.
The order was passed on May 8, and it emphasized the urgent need to clean up the city’s public spaces and ensure they are not blocked by neglected and abandoned vehicles.
In their observation, the Court stated, “Mumbai’s streets, gasping for space, can no longer double as graveyards for abandoned vehicles.”
The Court stressed that action needs to be consistent and ongoing, not just a one-time drive to clear out the junk. It also made it clear that the police must not only remove the vehicles but also ensure they are disposed of, either by auction, scrapping, or any other legal method available under the law.
The directive applies to all police stations across the city, and the Court expects the traffic police’s instructions on this matter to be strictly implemented.
The bench further mentioned,
“Mere dumping of such vehicles at a dumping yard won’t suffice”
and stressed that there needs to be
“continuous action to dispose of them.”
This move is expected to help reduce traffic congestion and free up vital road space in Mumbai. With the Court’s clear intervention, both the municipal authorities and the police have now been put on notice to act responsibly and urgently.
The High Court’s order sends a strong message to all law enforcement authorities and urban management bodies in Mumbai to prioritize public space and ensure that vehicles left unattended or abandoned on streets are dealt with swiftly and lawfully.
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