Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court, on Tuesday, directed the Home Department to speed up the process the proposal sent by city police to provide body worn cameras to traffic constables deployed across the city.A division bench headed by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Ravi Deshpande while hearing suo-motu public interest litigation (PIL) about traffic violations by reckless teenagers and deteriorating traffic scenario, directed the higher ups in Mantralaya to take quick decision to equip traffic constables in managing ever worsening traffic in the city. The DCP (Traffic) in his affidavit had informed about procurement of 1000 body worn cameras for traffic constables ‘to minimise obstruction in discharge of official duties and also to ensure transparency and accountability while performing their duties. The device will be provided to traffic constables and other beat marshals and men in the police stations on visible police duties.
This camera would be effective in monitoring the performance of the traffic constables, apart from protecting them from false allegations/complaints against them. Earlier, the High Court had issued a stern warning to all law-breakers raising hand against traffic cops on duty and had strongly advocated a policy of zero tolerance against such attackers. In response to the order regarding installation of traffic booths, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation promised to complete the work of erecting traffic booths at the identified places within three months. NMC counsel Adv Sudhir Puranik informed that the model of the traffic booth was prepared and approved by the Deputy Commissioner of Traffic and sought more time to complete the process.
