Jharkhand High Court Issues Contempt Warning Over Hazaribagh Road Chaos
The Jharkhand High Court has delivered a sharp rebuke to district authorities in Hazaribagh. The court emphasized that ensuring safe roads for both vehicles and pedestrians is a fundamental duty of the state. Officials now face the threat of contempt proceedings if they fail to act.
Court Frustrated by Lack of Action
A bench comprising Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad expressed clear frustration. They were hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by citizen Achyut Swaroop Mishra. The PIL highlighted the chaotic and dangerous conditions on Hazaribagh's streets.
The petitioner detailed several critical failures:
- Parking spaces remain illegally encroached upon.
- Numerous CCTV cameras, installed years ago, are completely non-functional.
- Traffic congestion has worsened, creating law-and-order concerns.
- Previous court orders from 2025 have been largely ignored.
The bench stated it was "prima facie inclined to agree" with the petitioner's claim that no serious compliance had occurred. They noted that authorities seemed to be merely "viling time" instead of taking concrete steps.
A Final Warning Before Contempt Action
The court's order from January 9 carries a clear ultimatum. "This time, we do not want to repeat that this court would be constrained to initiate action under the 'Contempt of Court Act'," the judges warned. They stressed that failure to make a "serious attempt at compliance" would have severe consequences.
To enforce accountability, the court has directly involved senior officials. It has ordered the Hazaribagh Superintendent of Police, the Deputy Commissioner, and the Municipal Commissioner to hold a joint meeting within ten days.
Their mandated tasks are specific:
- Assess the current status of compliance with all past court directions.
- Prepare and file detailed affidavits outlining what has been done.
- Review and finalize a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for remedial measures.
- Respond point-by-point to the petitioner's affidavit alleging non-compliance.
The judges explicitly warned against delegating this responsibility to junior officers. "Some senior officers must assume responsibility," the order stated, demanding that the three named officials take full charge.
Background of the Long-Running Case
This PIL was originally filed in 2021, painting a grim picture of Hazaribagh's civic infrastructure. The core issues have persisted for years. In August 2025, the court had already directed authorities to remove encroachments, make CCTV cameras functional, and run traffic awareness programs.
A critical finding was that 160 cameras installed in 2017 were defunct due to a lapsed maintenance contract. By October 2025, the court recorded its dissatisfaction, noting that compliance affidavits showed no "serious endeavour" to implement orders on the ground.
During recent hearings, the state's Additional Advocate General, Sachin Kumar, argued that "substantial compliance" had been achieved. However, the petitioner countered forcefully, stating that all progress was "only on paper" with no real change visible to citizens.
The matter is now scheduled for a further hearing on February 16. The court expects all affidavits and reports to be submitted, and copies provided to the petitioner, well before that date. The message from the High Court is unequivocal: the time for excuses is over, and the state must finally deliver on its duty to provide safe, orderly roads.
