Delhi HC directs police to review traffic restrictions on Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the traffic police to review the restrictions on the imposed along the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch, which has been closed has been closed since December 15 last year in the wake of ani-CAA protests in the national capital.

Hearing a petition that sought to withdraw the closure as it was causing inconvenience to commuters, the court directed the police to keep in mind larger public interest as well as maintenance of law and order.

The Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bag stretch was closed last month after hundreds of anti-CAA, NRC protesters hit the streets in the Shaheen Bagh area. Traffic was then diverted to other routes which caused troubles to people commuting to and from Noida. While it was said to be a temporary measure, the traffic police extended it due to continuous protests.

The HC order came in response to a PIL filed by advocate and social activist Amit Sahni stressing that the closure was "causing huge inconvenience/hardship to lakhs of commuters every day and they are compelled to take different routes for the last one month." The petition also claimed that authorities have failed to take  necessary action to give relief to the residents of the locality and lakhs of commuters of Delhi, UP and Haryana.

Along with seeking court's direction to the Delhi Police Commissioner to withdraw the closure of Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh Stretch and Okhla underpass, the plea also asked Centre and state government to provide appropriate assistance to the police in addressing the issue.

Last week, the High Court had refused to entertain a petition which demanded that police barricades at the Shaheen Bagh protest site be removed. The petitioner's argument was that the barricades put in place in and around the Shaheen Bagh protest site was disrupting traffic and causing trouble to several daily commuters. The petition also sought that the protesters be shifted elsewhere, another demand that the Delhi High Court turned down.