‘No vehicle day’ implementation in Lakshadweep only after Ramzan, HC told

Kochi: The Lakshadweep administration has informed high court that the order declaring Wednesdays as ‘no vehicle day' across the Union Territory will not be implemented until the Ramzan period is over.A bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas recorded the submission made by the Lakshadweep administration standing counsel on Monday and adjourned the petition challenging the impugned order to March 16 for further hearing. HC was considering a petition filed by C P Ajmal Khan, a lawyer from Kalpeni Island who practises in Lakshadweep and Ernakulam.
According to the petitioner, the order issued by the district collector on Feb 17, which prohibits the plying of motor vehicles on all islands every Wednesday, will come into force on Feb 25. Under the order, only vehicles used by persons with disabilities and those deployed for security and emergency medical purposes are exempt, and violations would attract a fine of Rs 500.During hearing on Monday, HC orally observed that the measure is only a regulation that may be necessary in the peculiar circumstances of the island, particularly considering the pollution affecting the coral islands. However, the petitioner argued that there is no study regarding the nature or extent of pollution on the islands. He further alleged that the administration's order would affect the right to movement of residents on the islands. The court orally opined that the impugned order does not affect the right to move, and that the right to movement does not mean a person can insist on moving in a particular manner.The petitioner further contended that the impugned order would also disrupt the movement of essential goods on the islands as there is no exemption for such transport. During hearing, the standing counsel for Lakshadweep administration informed HC that the impugned order would not be implemented until the Ramzan period is over. The counsel sought additional time to obtain further instructions from the administration. Accordingly, HC adjourned the matter to March 16.