Delhi HC directs Govt to revoke drunken drivers licence

The Delhi High Court today directed the Sheila Dikshit Government to revoke the driving licence of those multiple offenders who are apprehended while driving under the influence of liquor.

The High Court directed that the suggestions given by amicus curie (friend of the court) Mr Anup Bhambani be implemented to check the accidents caused due to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the letter of the Motor Vehicles Claims tribunal, which sought clarification on implementing the suggestions of the amicus curie, a bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice Manmohan directed to implement almost all his suggestions.

According to traffic police reports, almost 270 deaths take place daily due to drunken driving which is equal to one air-crash. About 5,000 people are seriously injured in a day which is also very disturbing.

To save the lives of people, the authorities must step in and act to stop this menace, the High Court said.

According to a survey, it was found that Delhi alone has 380 bar licences, including 20 pubs and bars in five-star hotels. In high-end bars, 80 per cent of the guests after consuming liquor drive the vehicle while in middle-end bars the figure was as high as 95 per cent.

The High Court had earlier directed the Delhi police to curb the menace and rein in the inebriated drivers. It also directed to have checking at bars or pubs itself as patrons came out after drinks.

It said, ‘There’s no point having random checking at intersections if we know the majority drive themselves after having drinks.’ According to Mr Bhambani, serving of alcohol in the bars should be monitored and replacement drivers should be available at these bars.

There should also be availability of pre-paid replacement drivers for customers who drive themselves, and drinks should be served only after the customer books a driver to drop him home, the amicus curie added.

The police had voiced apprehensions about replacement drivers, saying that they would be responsible for dropping sloshed men and women home late at night, leaving them vulnerable.

But the amicus curie pointed out that these concerns could be taken care of by adopting precautions like the ones taken while offering pre-paid taxi or valet services in hotels.

Mr Bhambhani said when hotels could introduce security measures after the 26/11 attack for better protection of their customers, they could do the same for safety of customers going home after drinks.

‘It is the responsibility of hotels that customers return home safely,’ he added.

Justice J R Midha, earlier while dealing with an accident claim case involving a drunk driver, had passed the order that the Delhi police should do all to prevent lives being lost due to this menace.