Supreme Court in E-Monitoring for Road Safety: MoRTH Informs its Plan About ‘Standardise Guidelines’ for Uniformity Across Nation

Supreme Court in E-Monitoring for Road Safety: MoRTH Informs its Plan About ‘Standardise Guidelines’ for Uniformity Across Nation

The Supreme Court was hearing the plea seeking electronic monitoring of roads to ensure safety and prevention of accidents and was apprised by the amicus curiae, Advocate Gaurav Agarwal about several meetings held by the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety.

At the meeting which was held on 15 March 2023, diverse stakeholders including from the Union Government and the State Governments participated.

The Apex Court bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala noted that as per the minutes of meetings, indicated that the Secretary MORTH indicated that the Ministry will take up the exercise of standardization and bring out detailed guidelines to integrate software and hardware with E-Vahan/E-Challan.

The Court was informed that Ministry of Road Tax and Highway (MORTH) intends to standardize national guidelines for hardware and software so that there is uniformity across the nation regarding the modalities for implementing Section 136-A of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988.

The committee in its interim report conveyed its decision to task the NCRB to prepare a Concept Paper, on the modalities of implementation of a nation-wide roll out of effective e-enforcement under Section 136-A.

Noting the same, the Court observed, “In view of the above developments and since the NCRB is to prepare a concept paper on the modalities for implementing a nationwide roll out of the enforcement of Section 136-A, we presently stand over the proceedings to 7 August 2023. We would request Mr. Gaurav Agarwal, the Amicus Curiae to place an updated status report on the next date of hearing.”

Previously an order was passed by the Apex Court, directing for a meeting to be convened by Justice AM Sapre, chairperson of Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety to set out an agreed formulation of modalities for implementing the provisions of Section 136A of the MV Act. Section 136A provides that- “The State Government shall ensure electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety in the manner provided under sub- section (2) on national highways, state highways, roads or in any urban city within a State which has a population up to such limits as may be prescribed by the Central Government.”

Earlier, Agarwal had informed the bench that the issue raised in the plea was state specific and that 15 states contributed to 90% of road accidents.

The Court listed the matter on 7 August, 2023.