The Sikkim High Court has given the State government three weeks to revisit its odd-even vehicle movement policy on the NH-10 stretch between Mayfair Junction, Ranipool and Zero Point Junction, Gangtok. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan passed the direction on September 22 while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed against the State of Sikkim.
During the hearing, Additional Advocate General Zangpo Sherpa informed the Bench that the State government was revisiting its policy of odd and even restrictions imposed on the NH-10 stretch.
Taking note of the submission, the Bench adjourned the matter by three weeks and posted the case for October 15.The latest development follows a series of changes to the State policy since May, when the government introduced restrictions amid concerns over fuel availability.
The government subsequently withdrew the odd-even restriction on private vehicles across all districts except Gangtok town, while the existing odd-even traffic regulation within Gangtok town continued to remain in force. The broader fuel-conservation measures had included a 50 per cent reduction in the Chief Minister's vehicle convoy, a five-day working week for government offices, work-from-home arrangements for half of the workforce and a 30 per cent reduction in fuel allotments for official vehicles.
The High Court PIL brought the public impact of the restrictions under judicial scrutiny.
During an earlier hearing, the Bench sought details of difficulties faced by citizens and directed district authorities to collect and place on record public grievances. The petitioners had challenged the expansion of the odd-even system, arguing that the restrictions affected vehicular movement and caused hardship to the public.
