Elected reps must not interfere in law enforcement: L-G

Reacting to the failure of the government to implement the helmet rules here yet, Bedi in a Whatsapp posting said, “Rule of law when tampered weakens safety of the people as a whole and has irreparable social and economic costs.”

“Hundreds of tourists visiting Puducherry have one common question—why the scooter riders in Puducherry were not wearing helmet—I tell them to ask this question to the Chief Minister,” she said.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy obstructed its enforcement when a massive collective effort was created in 2017 on road safety by the then Transport Commissioner and Traffic police, she said, adding that it is not been able to regain the momentum ever since then.

The Lt Governor said mere few challans for not wearing helmet does not create that mass impact of fear and respect of law and the enforcement in creating a mass compliance with such laws have been directly obstructed by the elected representatives themselves. They have not cared for road safety of the two-wheeler drivers who are the main victim of road accidents caused by negligent driving, self or others and faulty road conditions, she said.

Bedi said the widows of such cases (as the case may be) later identified become eligible for life long widow pension from the state exchequer as a security and welfare measures.

However, the social costs are lifelong to the traumatized family and heavy economic loss to society as a whole, as most of the drivers or riders are young in age and well invested in, she said.

The Lt Governor said, the file on compounding fees for notification is pending with the Transport Minister for months together and hence, the prosecution is further weakened and so is road safety.