Patna: While taking judicial notice of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed against traffic congestion at the eastern end of the capital town’s bypass road, the Patna high court sought a reply from the state govt on steps taken to address the problem.A division bench comprising acting chief justice Sudhir Singh and justice Rajesh Kumar Verma, while hearing a PIL filed by Rajiv Ranjan Singh, passed the order on Monday. A copy of the order became public on Tuesday.Petitioner’s counsel Birendra Kumar submitted to the court that the eastern side of Patna bypass road was witnessing heavy traffic congestion, especially in the vicinity of Transport Nagar, Baria bus stand road and Zero Mile. The problem had become chronic due to rampant parking of heavy vehicles along the flanks of the bypass, as well as lack of coordination between officers of the state’s police (traffic) and urban development departments.The high court directed the state govt to file its reply by Sept 15, when the matter will be heard again.Meanwhile, the same division bench, while hearing another PIL on Tuesday, asked the central govt to explore the possibility of establishing a Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) in Patna, where appeals against decisions of the Patna-based Debt Recovery Tribunal could be filed.Presently, litigants and lawyers have to visit the DRAT at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh to file such appeals.The division bench was hearing a PIL filed by the Advocate Association of Debt Recovery Tribunal at Patna and asked additional solicitor general (ASG) Krishna Nandan Singh to furnish a detailed report on steps taken by the central govt so far in this regard. The matter will also be heard again on Sept 15.
