Indore-Dewas Jam | ‘Why Step Out Sans Purpose?’ : NHAI Lawyer’s Comment In MP HC Sparks Row; Authority Issues Notice
The Nationwide Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a show-cause discover to an advocate, who, whereas representing the authority earlier than the Madhya Pradesh Excessive Court docket on June 30, reportedly remarked, “Why do individuals step out early…” in reference to the site visitors jam scenario on the Indore-Dewas freeway.
Clarifying its stance, NHAI in a statement posted on ‘X’ stated:
“In reference to information concerning comment made by an advocate representing #NHAI throughout the listening to of PIL about site visitors jam on 30 June 2025 in Excessive Court docket of Madhya Pradesh, Indore Bench, it’s hereby clarified that the comment by advocate doesn’t characterize official model of NHAI. The comment from the advocate was made with none authorization from NHAI. Accordingly, a show-cause discover has been served to the advocate.”
For context, on June 27, an almost 8-kilometre-long site visitors jam, which lasted for round 32 hours, introduced over 4,000 autos to a standstill on the Indore-Dewas freeway. The large congestion was purportedly attributable to ongoing six-lane bridge building, unfinished service roads and the absence of a correct site visitors diversion plan. It reportedly additionally resulted within the loss of life of three individuals.
Following this, a Public Curiosity Litigation (PIL) petition was filed earlier than the Madhya Pradesh Excessive Court docket (Indore Bench) by Dewas-based lawyer Anand Adhikari. In his PIL plea, he primarily prays that the street building work on the stretch be carried out below the supervision of the Court docket to make sure accountability of the involved authorities.
Throughout the listening to on June 30, the advocate showing for NHAI had questioned why individuals with out work go away their properties early. The comment sparked outrage, particularly after a video clip of the assertion went viral on social media.
“Abhi Ujjain mein bhi jam ho gaya, log nikalte kyon hain itni jaldi bina kaam ke?… jaam to hoga hello”, the advocate had reportedly stated, drawing laughter within the courtroom. [Translation: Now even in Ujjain there was a jam…why do people leave so early without any work?…of course there will be a traffic jam]
Having heard the counsels for each events, a bench of Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Binod Kumar Dwivedi issued discover to the Centre and NHAI, in addition to the administration and police of Indore, looking for their reply inside per week.
