HC directs civic authorites, police to file report on parking

Chennai, Aug 30 (PTI) Observing that the inability tocontrol hawkers and police helplessness will only indicatethat the law and order machinery is not working, the MadrasHigh Court today directed the authorities concerned to file afresh joint compliance report on the issue of parking spaceprovided by restaurants and hotels in the city, on October 6. The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay KishanKaul and Justice R Mahadevan passed the interim order on thePIL by one Raghu, seeking to cancel the licenses of the hotelsand restaurants which do not have parking place. After going through the joint compliance report filedearlier by both the Chennai Corporation and the City TrafficPolice, the bench said, "We find no problem in the same assuch practices occur world over." While concurring with petitioner’s counsel that carparking should not be a mere formality, but should actuallyserve its purpose, the bench said, "The petitioner is right incontending that it is an aspect to be monitored by the trafficpolice." Taking note of the re-encroachment of hawkers, thebench said, "We also make it clear that we will notcountenance any suggestions of inability to control thehawkers who seek to come back on the pavements as the policecannot express helplessness." "If the police are worried to do so, it will show thatthe law and order machinery is not working." Recording the submission of the Additional AdvocateGeneral Manishanker, the bench said, "AAG stated that CarParking Space is made available for restaurants though some ofthem may be at a distance.This of course is a naturalconsequence of area being crowded." It then said, the joint compliance report should not betwo reports combined into one having two parts, but a jointcompliance report in its true sense, and posted the matter forfurther compliance to October 6. PTI COR ROHBN