Calcutta High Court proposes measures for safety of women and transgender people

The bench held that if needed, the existing motor vehicles rules should be amended to implement the action

Calcutta High Court.: File photo

Legal Reporter   |   TT  |  Calcutta   |   24.07.21: The division bench of acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijit Banerjee of Calcutta High Court asked the state transport authorities on Friday to consider if CCTV cameras could be fitted in every mode of passenger transport across the state.

The bench also expressed the need to display emergency numbers for women and transgender persons to lodge complaints if they face any trouble while travelling.

The bench also held that if needed, the existing motor vehicles rules should be amended to implement the actions.

Since the Motor Vehicles Act, based on which the motor vehicles rules have been formulated, is a central act, the bench has made the Centre's additional solicitor general party to the case and directed him to ask the Union government to assist the state in amending the law.

The order followed a PIL seeking an order directing the state to set up closed circuit cameras inside public vehicles.

Several lawyers wondered whether the order could be implemented. “I doubt whether closed circuit TV cameras can be fitted in taxis and app cabs. Privacy of passengers would be hampered,” said advocate Rabishankar Chattopadhyay.

The bench has asked both the state and the Centre to come with a decision on the issue on August 12.