Haryana Rights Commission Declares Safe Roads a Fundamental Right
The Haryana Human Rights Commission has delivered a landmark ruling that establishes safe roads as a fundamental right for all citizens. Hearing a complaint about widespread deficiencies in road signage, markings, and dividers, the commission stated that any negligence in road maintenance directly violates the constitutional right to life under Article 21.
Commission Directs Multiple Agencies to Submit Compliance Reports
A full bench of the commission, headed by Justice Lalit Batra, observed persistent confusion among various departments regarding responsibility for road safety measures. The commission has directed all relevant agencies to submit comprehensive compliance reports with photographic evidence. These agencies include the National Highways Authority of India, Public Works Department, Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, urban local bodies, and police departments.
All reports must be submitted at least one week before the next hearing scheduled for April 9. The commission emphasized that this documentation will help track progress and ensure accountability across all implementing bodies.
Comprehensive Road Maintenance Requirements
The commission issued detailed orders requiring that roads across Haryana must be maintained to ensure safe movement for both vehicles and pedestrians. Specific requirements include:
- Road surfaces must be free of potholes, cracks, and obstructions
- Regular upkeep of carriageways, shoulders, medians, culverts, footpaths, and drains
- Proper development and maintenance of central verges and dividers
- Clear lane demarcation using adequate cat-eyes and retro-reflective studs for night visibility
- Installation of delineators on six-lane and eight-lane stretches to improve driver guidance
- Maintenance of plantation on central verges to act as natural visual barriers and reduce glare
Enhanced Safety Measures for High-Risk Areas
The commission specified additional safety measures for accident-prone locations and complex road configurations:
- Where triple road markings exist, retro-reflective studs and cat-eyes must be installed to warn drivers about lane merging
- Rumble strips must be provided at accident-prone locations, crossings, and junctions to encourage speed control
- All signboards must comply with Indian Road Congress guidelines with proper placement, visibility, and legibility
- Road markings must be executed using thermoplastic paint to ensure durability and visibility
Strengthened Traffic Enforcement Mandate
The commission underlined the constitutional duty of the state to safeguard citizens' life and safety through effective traffic enforcement. Police departments, especially traffic police, have received specific directives:
- Strict enforcement of traffic rules to prevent rash and negligent driving
- Active measures to curb speeding, lane violations, wrong-side driving, and misuse of high-beam lights
- Identification of black spots and hazardous stretches with prompt information sharing to road-maintenance agencies
- Immediate installation of temporary safety measures wherever required
The commission noted that failure to enforce traffic discipline or respond to known hazards amounts to negligence that can cost lives.
Special Measures for Winter Fog Conditions
Recognizing recurring winter fog risks in the region, the commission mandated specific precautions:
- Installation of retro-reflective tapes on vehicles and roadside infrastructure
- Deployment of highway patrol vehicles with warning systems on vulnerable stretches
- Circulation of safety messages through electronic billboards
- Provision of real-time updates on accident-prone routes, fog-hit stretches, and diversions through SMS, WhatsApp, and priority alerts
Infrastructure Improvements and Speed Management
The commission directed authorities to implement several infrastructure improvements:
- Prompt rectification of accident-prone spots
- Installation of crash barriers where necessary
- Implementation of speed-calming measures to reduce risk
Constitutional Obligation for Road Safety
Reiterating its fundamental position, the commission stated that safe public roads are not merely a service but a constitutional and human rights obligation. The ruling emphasizes that any failure to maintain basic road-safety infrastructure exposes citizens to avoidable danger and violates their fundamental right to life and security.
The commission's comprehensive directives aim to create a systematic approach to road safety across Haryana, addressing both immediate hazards and long-term infrastructure improvements. This ruling establishes a significant precedent for holding government agencies accountable for road maintenance and safety measures throughout the state.
