How is the Delhi HC Tackling Wrong-Side Driving at Panchsheel Enclave?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Delhi High Court mandates police action against wrong-side driving.
- Resident Welfare Association highlights safety concerns.
- Traffic officials to be stationed at critical locations.
- Measures proposed to prevent vehicle collisions.
- Next hearing scheduled for January 21, 2026.
New Delhi, Sep 30 (NationPress) The Delhi High Court has mandated the city police to assign sufficient traffic officers across various areas surrounding Panchsheel Enclave, following a petition from the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) that raised alarms over rampant wrong-side driving and persistent traffic infractions.
A single-judge Bench led by Justice Sachin Datta was reviewing a writ petition submitted by the Panchsheel Enclave RWA, which emphasized the “widespread and unchecked illegal wrong-side driving at the junctions of Josip Broz Tito Marg and Siri Fort Road.”
The RWA indicated that despite numerous appeals to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), South Zone, no remedial measures have been implemented to date. The petition also expressed “a legitimate fear that a significant accident could occur due to the widespread flouting of traffic regulations.”
In response, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the relevant authorities, ordering that “in the meantime, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), South Zone, shall deploy a sufficient number of traffic personnel at the intersection of Josip Broz Tito Marg and Siri Fort Road.”
Moreover, the court instructed that traffic officers should also be positioned “near Arun Jaitley Park; close to the Indian Oil Petrol Pump and at Panchsheel Enclave, Gate No. 3, to deter violations of traffic regulations, as highlighted in the current petition.”
The RWA has also proposed physical measures such as planting trees or erecting barriers on the central channel to avert vehicle collisions. Justice Datta has requested the authorities to submit a status and compliance report before the next hearing, which is scheduled for January 21, 2026.
“Issue notice. Learned counsel…accepts notice on behalf of the respondents. Let a status/compliance report be filed by the respondents before the next date of hearing. List on 21.01.2026,” directed the Delhi High Court.