Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 22: Henceforth, no vehicles can be parked on footpaths in the city. Violators will face criminal cases and have to pay a huge fine. An order to this effect was passed by the state high court on Wednesday April 21.

A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice A S Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj, which heard a public interest litigation filed by a city-based advocate, Ramachandra Reddy, passed a detailed order in this connection.

The bench, quoting from Karnataka Motor Vehicles Act, Motor Vehicles Rules 2017 and several other acts and rules, said that it is illegal to park vehicles in the footpaths meant for pedestrians. It directed the government to issue orders to the police and Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to initiate penal action against the violators. It asked the government to instruct the police to file criminal cases against those parking their vehicles in a way that obstructs smooth traffic. It said that action under the Motor Vehicles Act and Indian Penal Code can be taken.

Advocate Vijayakumar Patil, representing the state government also advocated that it is illegal to park vehicles on footpaths under the traffic rules and Indian Penal Code. K N Puttegowda representing the BBMP said that footpaths are part of the road and movement cannot therefore be obstructed by vehicles. Vehicles can be parked only at areas earmarked for the purpose by the corporation officials, he stated.