The court also asked the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to file a reply enumerating the steps taken to curb the alleged corruption within three weeks
"We know you [the Traffic Department] cannot eradicate it [corruption], but at least control it," the Bombay High Court told the Traffic Police on Wednesday, reprimanding them for causing discomfort to motorists. A division bench of Justice R M Sawant and Justice Sadhana Jadhav was hearing a criminal public interest litigation filed by police constable Sunil Toke, who alleged large scale corruption in the Traffic Department. "Try to win back the citizen's confidence," the bench said.
"You [traffic policemen] stand somewhere in the corner and if the motorist in a city like Mumbai, who drives under so much tension, changes lines, you fine him for lane-cutting." The court also asked the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to file a reply enumerating the steps taken to curb the alleged corruption within three weeks.
Toke's petition claimed that two havaldaars are designated as 'cashiers' in each traffic police division. Their 'job', allegedly, is to collect bribes from car showrooms, restaurants, malls and other business establishments. It further says that each team has a daily target of registering five to 10 cases of drunken driving cases. However, they hold 40 to 50 such persons, who are allowed to go without persecution but with some alleged greasing of palms.
The Anti-corruption Bureau, had earlier filed an affidavit in the court, terming all claims as false. "The petitioner has made this allegation while being in service; it needs to be properly probed," responded the bench. "Your report seems to be an eyewash. You want us to believe that is Ramrajya on paper, but the reality is different."
In his petition filed through advocates Pradeep Havnur and Datta Mane, Toke sought directions from the court to register an FIR against a list of corrupt policemen. He also sought for the court to direct the Director General of Police, Police Commissioner and Joint Commissioner (Traffic) to initiate a departmental inquiry against them.
Public Prosecutor Prajakta Shinde agreed to file a detailed reply from the concerned authority within two weeks.
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