Order - Sheet

19/09/2025

This is an office reference.

Heard Mr. Prafull N Bharat, learned Advocate General assisted by Mr. Shashank Thakur, learned Deputy Advocate General for the State/respondents.

On the last date of hearing i.e. on 10.09.2025 and the matter was directed to be listed on 13.10.2025, however, since a news report with a heading have been published in Hindi Daily, Dainik Bhaskar and Haribhoomi, respectively, on 19.09.2025, the matter is taken up today for hearing.

The aforesaid news report goes to state that some youngsters, who were going to celebrate birthday at a farm house situated at village Lawar, were performing stunts in their cars by hanging on the windows and sunroof of their running cars on the Masturi Road and the cars were being driven rashly and negligently endangering the lives of other commuters. These people also created a trafÏc jam situation on the National Highway No. 49.

Some other people passing-by recorded their actions in their mobiles and reported the matter to the police and the police immediately took action and seized 18 cars which are reported to be belonging to Masturi area and preventive actions have also been taken against the persons found in those cars.

According to Mr. Bharat, the police has registered offence under various provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the vehicles used in performing the stunts have been seized and recommendation has been made to cancel the driving licence of those car owners.

It is very surprising that this Court had taken cognizance of such incidents way back on 03.02.2025 and various affidavits have been filed by the Chief Secretary of the State and the Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh on various dates with respect to the steps taken to curb the menace of hooliganism on the roads by muscleman and affluent people.

It appears that the wrath of the police only falls upon the poor, middle-class and the downtrodden but when the culprit is an affluent person either in terms of muscle, money or political backing, the police authorities become toothless tiger and such offenders are let go off by paying meager amount of money in terms of fine and their vehicles are also released and handed to the owners.

It is difficult to understand as to what restrains the police authorities to register offence under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 or under any other stringent laws against such offenders who endanger the life of other commuters by their irresponsible and negligent act. The action taken by the police against such hooligans should be such which may be a lesson for their life. The action taken by the police in the present case is merely an eye wash. Hence, we deem it appropriate to direct the respondent authorities that the 18 cars seized by the Masturi Police, shall not be released without the leave of this Court.

On the next date of hearing, the Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, shall file an affidavit informing this Court as to what action has been taken against the offenders besides registering offence under the various provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Let this matter be again listed on 23rd September, 2025.

The learned State counsel is directed to send a copy of this order to the Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, Raipur, for information and necessary action, forthwith.