Judges also travel by bicycles, government buses, says Madras High Court Justice

Asking people not to be under the impression that High Court judges always travel in cars, Justice N. Anand Venkatesh said that he often travelled by bicycle, in government buses, and even on foot, and therefore, knew the problems that such commuters faced.

The judge was hearing a petition filed by Mohammed Ashik and Mohammed Shadik to quash a criminal case filed against them for having reportedly indulged in motorcycle stunts on Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai in Chennai.

The court was informed that a group of youngsters had indulged in wheeling, rash driving and speeding near AVM Avenue around 1:30 a.m. on March 19, 2022.

Such irresponsible behaviour on the main road posed a threat to other motorists.

K. Sathyamurthy, a police constable on patrol, had noticed the youngsters indulging in negligent acts, but could not catch them as they sped away. The policeman could not note down the registration numbers of the vehicles in question.

However, he informed the control room and complained to the Adyar Traffic Investigation Wing. Immediately, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered to take up the investigation based on CCTV footage in the locality.

After asking Additional Public Prosecutor A. Damodaran to submit the footage in court, Justice Venkatesh said that he had been terrified by such rash riding of motorcycles by youngsters on public roads whenever he was travelling by bicycle.

The judge said that those who possessed a talent for bike stunts should display them in racing circuits rather than on public roads.

“Show your prowess in places meant for such things, not on public roads,” the judge said, before adjourning the case to March 18.