The New Indian Express 08.09.2010
No reserved parking on public roads: HC
CHENNAI: Finding parking space in crowded Chennai is a task in itself without having bullies (read big business concerns) cordon off portions of public parking areas for their own use. But now your parking woes could ease as the Madras High Court has taken note of the problem, based on a public interest writ petition.The court on Tuesday directed the Chennai Corporation and the police to ensure that public parking areas are not reserved for private parties and that they are made available for public use.
The First Bench comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam gave the direction, disposing of a petition by K Krishnamani, who contended that some companies, including public sector organisations and banks, were encroaching on public roads by roping off private parking zones and employing security personnel to keep out the public.
The judges observed that a perusal of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules made it clear that no private person was entitled to exclusive right to park his vehicle in such a notified public parking space as the Rules contemplated no such reservation.
“Therefore, it has to be held that collection of lumpsum licensee fees from private parties and exclusively earmarking of the notified public parking space for a private person is illegal,” the bench said.
