Supreme Court directs MORTH to create portal and toll-free number for National Highways encroachment complaints

The Supreme Court in the case Gyan Prakash v. Union of India & Anr observed and has directed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, MORTH to establish a portal and a toll-free number for citizens in order to lodge complaints about encroachments on National Highways.

- TDG NETWORK

The bench comprising of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih was hearing the present matter.

The bench passed the order wherein the writ petition is filed by one Gyan Prakash Mishra highlighting the issue of encroachment on roads.

The court in the case directed, 'The Ministry shall also endeavour to create a portal on which citizens can lodge complaints about the encroachments on highways and on the portal a facility should be made available for citizens to the photographs of the encroached portions and location details of encroached portion. Therefore, a facility should also be created of a tollfree number.' The amicus curiae highlighted the Ministry's Circular dated March 18, 2024 and stated that it is necessary to constitute proper inspection teams to prevent and remove encroachments on National Highways.