Safiya Malik

The Kerala High Court Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M on 29 January closed a public interest litigation raising concerns over pedestrian safety along roads in the State. The petition sought directions to the State government, the national highways authority and the State road safety authority to implement pedestrian-friendly measures in line with the Indian Road Congress standards, besides allied reliefs. Recording the submission that the highways authority’s grievance redressal mobile application was operational and publicised, and noting that other issues stood covered by earlier interim directions, the court disposed of the matter while leaving it open to the petitioner to return if any grievance survives.

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The grievance was directed against the State authorities, the Kerala Road Safety Authority, and the National Highways Authority of India, seeking remedial measures to ensure pedestrian safety and effective grievance redressal. The petitioner relied on several documents, including photographs, prior judicial orders, replies obtained under the Right to Information Act, and extracts from relevant guidelines and manuals, to demonstrate deficiencies in road infrastructure and safety compliance.

During the pendency of the proceedings, interim orders were passed by the Court, and the respondents placed materials on record indicating steps taken, including the development and publicity of a mobile application intended to address grievances relating to highway conditions and pedestrian facilities.

The Court observed that “this writ petition has been filed by the petitioner primarily raising concerns regarding the pedestrians facilities alongside the roads and for ancillary reliefs, highlighting the shortcomings in maintaining the standards prescribed by the manual issued by the Indian Road Congress.” The Bench recorded that through earlier interim orders, “this Court had taken note of the compliances effected” and had examined the grievance redressal mechanism introduced by the National Highways Authority of India.

Referring to its earlier order dated 06.01.2026, the Court stated that it had noted submissions indicating publicity given to the mobile application developed by the NHAI, while also recording that “certain aspects still need to be addressed,” including the scope of the application and the absence of a clear methodology for dealing with complaints. The Court recorded that “further clarification and action on the part of the NHAI are necessary” and that inspections by the concerned officers were required to address the issues raised.

On the final hearing, the Court recorded the submission of counsel for the NHAI that “the mobile app of NHAI is functional and that wide publicity had been given to the same on the NHAI’s official social media platforms as directed.” It was further recorded that “the other grievances raised in the WP(C) already stand addressed in the earlier interim directions” and that the authority remained open to suggestions and further action if any grievance was brought to its notice.

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The Court directed that, “in light of the orders rendered earlier in this WP(C), this writ petition is closed, reserving the right of the petitioner to approach this Court in case of any subsisting grievance.”

Advocates Representing the Parties

For the Petitioner:  Smt. A. Aruna, Advocate
For the Respondents:  Shri Lejo Joseph George, Advocate; Shri E.C. Kuriakose, Advocate; Shri V. Tekchand, Senior Government Pleader

Case Title: Prasad Somarajan v. State of Kerala & Others
Neutral Citation: 2026: KER:7176
Case Number: WP(C) No. 20485 of 2024
Bench: Chief Justice Soumen Sen, Justice Syam Kumar V.M.