Disclaimer: This has been reported after the availability of the order of the Court and not on media reports so as to give an accurate report to our readers.
Chhattisgarh High Court: In a suo motu writ petition registered regarding the celebration of birthdays and the performance of stunts on roads, the Division Bench of Ramesh Sinha, CJ., and Bibhu Datta Guru, J., stated that, though the authorities had initiated actions against road hooliganism, they were unsatisfactory and only an eye-wash. Accordingly, the Court directed the Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh (“Chief Secretary”) to file a fresh affidavit disclosing the further steps proposed by the State to curb the repetition of such incidents.
Background
The Court took cognizance based on a news report published in the ‘Dainik Bhaskar News App’ about a birthday celebration in the middle of a road in Raipur, which caused a traffic jam. Thereafter, another news report was published in ‘Hindi Daily Haribhoomi’ regarding six affluent youths who were doing stunts on the Ratanpur National Highway. The rich youngsters were making videos/reels by parking their cars in the middle of the road. Due to their acts, there was a traffic jam on the National Highway.
On 13-10-2025, the Court had directed the Chief Secretary to file his personal affidavit. Accordingly, the affidavit was filed, stating that the Police had issued detailed guidelines discouraging such activities and had acted against erring individuals, such as filing FIRs, collecting fines, and seizing vehicles.
The affidavit further stated that on 25-10-2025, a meeting of all the Divisional Commissioners, Inspector Generals of Police, District Collectors, and Superintendents of Police was held under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary for scrutiny and evaluation of the steps taken by the administration on the various orders passed by the Court for maintaining order in the society. In this meeting, the guidelines issued by government agencies/departments were reviewed, and the authorities resolved to ensure their implementation.
Furthermore, apart from scaling up the law enforcement efforts, the field officials had been directed to elicit public participation and community activities, and support and involvement of elected representatives and media personnel. Every department of the administration had been directed to work in close coordination to achieve the desired targets. It was further directed that a system should be developed with a maximum of 15-30 minutes response time for every complaint received regarding road safety and hooliganism on the road.
Additionally, the Police were regularly acting against the persons involved in such acts, and all efforts were being made to enforce traffic rules and the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (“MV Act”).
Analysis
Upon perusal of the affidavit, the Court remarked that the two incidents mentioned therein and the actions purportedly taken by the State were only an eye-wash. The Court stated that, though certain actions had been initiated, it was not satisfied with them.
“If such action is what the State considers adequate for violations of rules and regulations under the law, it would only demonstrate a careless effort on the part of the authorities, lacking seriousness to check such incidents wherein highways and public streets are being used for celebrating birthdays by affluent individuals as well as others.”
The Court added that it hoped that the State would act more consciously and take the strict actions deterrent against those who commit such offences and violate the law, displaying the might of their money and power.
Accordingly, the Court directed the Chief Secretary to file a fresh affidavit disclosing the further steps proposed to be taken by the State to curb the repetition of such incidents of road hooliganism.
The matter was listed for 21-11-2025.
[Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation v. State of Chhattisgarh, WPPIL No. 21 of 2025, decided on 29-10-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the petitioner:
For the respondent: Advocate General Prafull N. Bharat and Shashank Thakur Deputy Advocate General