'We will sit on dharna': SC tells Centre on lack of pedestrian crossing near Delhi HC

A bench of Supreme Court Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan on Friday quipped that they would sit on a protest (dharna) at the main gate of the Delhi High Court if concrete measures are not taken to ensure pedestrian safety on Mathura Road before November 25, reported Bar and Bench.

The bench raised concerns over delays in making the dangerous pedestrian crossing near the Delhi High Court junction and the National Zoological Park safer, despite thousands of lawyers, litigants and children using it every day.

While addressing Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikramjit Banerjee, said, the Court, in a "lighter vein", as per Bar and Bench, said, "If you don't do it before the next date, both of us will be at the main gate of the Delhi High Court, and we will not go home until you complete the work. That's for sure. Baith jaayenge wahan dharna karne ke liye baith jaayenge (We will sit there on dharna), and we will not allow Mr. Banerjee (ASG) to also go home."


Banerjee responded that a committee was actively looking into the issue after discussions at the highest levels. However, the Court questioned the bureaucratic delay in fixing a basic traffic bottleneck.

"Why do you need a committee for this? You need some engineers? You take Mr. Gaurav Agarwal [amicus curiae], he will help you. Why do you need a high-level committee? Include Mr. Agarwal in the committee. He will show what’s the exact problem over there," it observed.

Issuing a deadline of November 25, the Court made it clear that bureaucratic explanations would no longer suffice.