UP officials to be punished for deaths due to potholes?

Government officials in UP could soon be held accountable for fatal accidents due to potholes and charged under Section 304A (causing death due to negligence), if an order issued by the state transport commissioner comes into effect. 

This is in contrast to two recent cases in which police in Maharashtra and Karnataka used the same section to book family members of accident victims. 

UP transport commissioner K Ravindra Naik had written to district magistrates, civic bodies and development authorities of cities directing them to punish those responsible for potholes. "Dig as much as you can fill in a day . Why should pits be left open on roads at night?" said Naik. 

On September 24, police booked Priti Prasad, 26, of Thane for the death of her mother, who was riding pillion and fell while the scooter was negotiating potholes. The Thane police commissioner has since asked his men not to arrest the woman and probe the possible role of the contractor and MMRDA officials. UP transport commissioner K Ravindra Naik, who has issued an order seeking officials to be held accountable for accident deaths due to potholes, said though a large number of people died due to overspeeding, bad roads killed a significant number every year. 

In his order, Naik sought punishment for those guilty under section 304(A) of IPC, which states, "whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both".