Karnataka High Court Instructs State to Adjust School and Industry Hours

The Karnataka High Court has issued an order instructing the state government to collaborate with stakeholders to revise school and industrial establishment timings in response to traffic congestion problems in Bengaluru. This directive stems from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Samarpana Trust in 2020, seeking to implement a 2014 Supreme Court directive aimed at reducing traffic congestion, specifically in the area between Mekhri Circle and the BDA head office.

The bench, consisting of Chief Justice Prasanna Varale and Justice Krishna Dixit, emphasized, "The state government, through the secretary of school education and higher education, may call a meeting of stakeholders such as representatives of private/government institutions, school bus operators, parents' associations and take up the issue of revising school timings so as to ease traffic, and at the same time, consider the security and safety of children."

Furthermore, the bench instructed the secretary of Industries and Labour to initiate discussions among stakeholders in the industrial sector. They suggested, "the secretary, industries and labour, can call meetings of stakeholders such as representatives of associations of industries/factories, industrial organizations, chambers of commerce and discuss revisiting working hours of industrial units, factories, commercial houses, companies, etc. The stakeholders can provide suggestions on either flexible hours of working or any other measures for easing traffic and reducing the number of vehicles plying on roads in peak hours."

To collect input on potential timing adjustments in factories, commercial establishments, and workplaces, the bench recommended that the secretary of Industries and Labour organize a meeting with representatives from various industries, factories, the Chamber of Commerce, and others.

Additionally, the bench clarified that stakeholders may also propose flexible working hours or other suggestions to alleviate traffic and reduce road congestion during peak hours.

The bench noted that enforcing a 2014 notice prohibiting specific categories of heavy vehicles from entering the Central Business District during specific times of the day could partially alleviate traffic congestion.

The bench granted permission to the state government to proceed with these initiatives, stating, "We permit the state government to proceed further and to take appropriate steps already initiated by the state government for ease of traffic and by considering the direction/suggestion of the petitioner and the court, submit a fresh status and action taken report to this court after six weeks."

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