The Division Bench of the Meghalaya High Court, comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh in the case of Tennydard M. Marak v. State of Meghalaya & ors has hoped that the State should take some actual steps to check the overloading of vehicles along the principal arterial routes in the State.
The Court was informed by the State that there was some 16 or so weighbridges functional in the entirety of the State and that by the end of this month, the number of functional weighbridges would be increased to 23.
The Court was vexed with the State Inactions and observed that it cannot be missed that in several parts of the State, particularly around Pynursla, Shella, Dawki and Nongstoin, vehicles carrying boulders and even sand filled to the brim and more of heavy metalbodied trucks operate brazenly with no checks in place. Even without weighbridges, it is obvious that such vehicles, sometimes bearing no registration plates, do not conform to the weight limits but the local administration, for obvious reasons, turns a Nelson’s eye to the same.
The Court further expounded that the overladen vehicles carrying boulders look so dangerous that if they were suddenly to brake, the boulders on top would invariably shower behind and smash any lesser vehicle or kill pedestrians.
Therefore, the Court directed the Superintendents of Police in all districts to made aware and appropriately instructed to check, even on physical appearance, the overladen trucks and hoped that some actual steps would be taken on the ground in such regard and a report filed when the matter appears next four weeks hence.
The Court listed the matter on May 03, 2023.
Case Details
Case:- PIL No.1/2022
Petitioner:- Tennydard M. Marak
Respondent:- State of Meghalaya & ors
Counsel for the Petitioner - Mr. P.T. Sangma
Counsel for the Respondent – Mr. S. Sahay, GA
Judge: Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh
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