Supreme Court to hear night traffic ban Jan 10

KOZHIKODE: The Supreme Court would on January 10 consider the petitions filed by various travel and trade organisations demanding the lifting of the night-time traffic ban across the state borders. The state government, Nilgiri-Wayanad National Highway and Railway action council and Ooty Hotel Owners Association had approached the SC against Karnataka High Court's March 13, 2010, ban on traffic through NH 212 and NH 67.

Manoj Kumar Meena, Chamarajanagar district collector, had passed the ban orders on ‘night traffic’ through NH 212 (Gundlupet-Sulthan Bathery Road) and NH  67 (Gundlupet-Ooty Road), both passing through the Bandipur sanctuary, on June 3, 2009.

The Nilgiri-Wayanad National Highway and Railway action council in a press release demanded the state government be more alert in handling the case at SC as an environmental organisation also approached SC to tighten the existing restrictions for traffic through the jungle.  As Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had supported the ban at HC, it would be tough for the state to convince the SC about the need for lifting the ban, the action council said. 

While the Tiger Conservation Authority under the Union government is supporting the ban, the National Highway Authority wants the jungle roads kept open at night as well.

Former UDF government had deputed senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam at SC to battle for the cause of people of the state who appeared four times. 

Later the SC had directed Karnataka and Kerala to reach a consensus. Though the two states had formed two special committees, both took opposing stands. 

If the state government fails to explore all possible avenues for a legal victory, the ban for vehicular movement through the national highways connecting Kozhikode with Bangalore would be final.