Bombay HC upheld bike ban on JJ flyover

Mumbai: The Bombay high court in April 2010 had upheld the Mumbai traffic police’s decision of imposing a ban on plying of motorcycles on the 2.4-km long JJ flyover in south Mumbai. A division bench J.N. Patel and S.C. Dharmadhikari had said, “there was nothing wrong or illegal with the decision of the traffic police of Mumbai”.

While disposing of the two PILs which challenged the ban, the court said, “It is not a subject matter of judicial scrutiny, and some matters are best left to the
authorities”. But the court had allowed petitioners to make a presentation to the traffic department.

Petitioners contended that thousands of bikers used that route every day and there was no alternative way for them.

A ban was resulting in a waste of fuel as bikers had to take a longer route to reach south Mumbai. The petitioners also contended that the police instead of taking preventive measures directly banned bikers on the flyover.

Shamsher Pathan, retired ACP, who had taken initiative seeking a ban said, “In 2010, four to five accidents took place every day on the J.J. flyover. A doctor had died on the sharp turn of the flyover. I prepared a presentation and had sent it to then traffic DCP following which we met with the commissioner of police. He also supported us and allowed traffic department to issue a notification”.