40 Years On, Punjab & Haryana HC Orders Opening of Road Outside Punjab CM’s House

After nearly four decades, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has issued an order to reopen a 500-meter stretch of road outside the Punjab Chief Minister’s residence, connecting Sukhna Lake to Nayagaon. This decision comes into effect on a trial basis from May 1st.

The road closure dates back to the 1980s, during the peak of terrorism in Punjab, when the stretch at the merger point of Uttar Marg-Vidya Path was sealed off. Consequently, commuters traveling between Nayagaon and Sukhna Lake were compelled to take lengthy detours through adjacent sectors.

However, in a significant turn of events, the High Court has now directed the Chandigarh Police to engage traffic experts in devising a traffic management plan for the reopened road. Initially, the road will only be accessible from 7 am to 7 pm on working days.

The decision to reopen the road faced opposition from the police forces of both Punjab and Haryana, as well as Chandigarh, citing security concerns due to the proximity of the road to the official residences of the chief ministers of both states.

In response to these concerns, the High Court scrutinized reports filed by the Chandigarh senior superintendent of police, which highlighted perceived security threats, including incidents of attacks using RPGs in Punjab. However, the court dismissed these concerns as “figments of imagination” and emphasized the need to prioritize public convenience over perceived security risks.

Moreover, the court criticized the notion that vehicular flow on the reopened road would pose a security threat, asserting that denying access to the Sukhna Lake road was not a viable solution. It further highlighted the importance of citizens’ access to their elected representatives to express grievances without fear of being deemed a security threat.

This landmark decision by the Punjab & Haryana High Court marks a significant step towards enhancing public accessibility and convenience, while also challenging the notion of security concerns outweighing citizens’ rights to access public roads.

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