The Gujarat High Court has severely criticized the state government, police, and Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) officials for their failure to address persistent issues of stray cattle, deteriorated roads, and illegal parking. In a recent contempt petition hearing, the court expressed frustration over the lack of tangible improvements despite numerous affidavits and grand claims of action.
The bench, consisting of Justices A Y Kogje and Sameer Dave, highlighted the stark contrast between the elaborate claims made in affidavits by the authorities and the actual situation on the ground. They criticized the ineffective responses and failure to implement meaningful changes, stating that “Your demonstrated lack of willpower is evident.”The court emphasized that these issues were not limited to Ahmedabad but were widespread problems affecting the entire state.
Justice Kogje and Justice Dave further criticized the government, traffic police, AMC, and other authorities for their ineffective responses and failure to implement meaningful changes.
They noted that while the authorities were filling out paperwork and making promises, there was no real action being taken. The court stressed that visible improvements were necessary, rather than just assurances.
Blaming citizens for department’s failure is not acceptable
Advocate Panchal also pointed out that the traffic department’s joint commissioner presented an affidavit claiming public cooperation for adhering to traffic rules. However, Panchal argued that enforcing these rules is the department’s responsibility, and blaming the public for the department’s failures is unacceptable. The court reiterated that despite the traffic police’s claims, the ground reality showed no significant change, and the situation remained unchanged.
Absenteeism of AAG
The bench expressed concern over the repeated absence of the Additional Advocate General (AAG) Manisha Shah during the hearings. Despite multiple requests for their presence, the AAG was not available, leading the court to take serious note of the situation.
The court also highlighted that while police officers and traffic constables continue to make excuses, the reality on the ground remains unchanged, with no visible improvement even after several weeks.