Karnataka High Court orders digital system to track public safety hazards
The Karnataka High Court has directed the state to create a digital mechanism for reporting, classifying and tracking hazards such as unsafe trees, open manholes, blocked drains and damaged roads. The directions followed a compensation ruling for a man paralysed by a falling tree branch in Bengaluru.
The Karnataka High Court has directed the Karnataka government to establish a technology-based system for detecting, reporting and resolving public safety hazards across the state. The proposed mechanism would cover unsafe trees, damaged roads, open manholes, blocked drains, exposed electrical installations, unsafe construction and encroachments. It is intended to prevent reports from being lost between departments or left without action.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj issued the directions in a judgment awarding ₹2.77 crore in compensation to Chandan G., who was paralysed after a tree branch fell on him while he was walking on a Bengaluru public road two years ago. The court said hazards should be reported through a common digital system and given unique identification numbers recording the time and date of receipt. Each case should remain traceable from its first report through final closure.
Citizens, police, municipal staff, public transport workers, utility personnel, contractors, schools, hospitals, resident associations and fire services should be able to submit reports, including photographs, videos and location data. The court also directed the state to use cameras on buses, garbage vehicles, inspection and municipal vehicles, as well as police and traffic vehicles, to identify visible hazards. Images and videos should automatically record the date, time and geographic location, while cameras must face public areas rather than private premises.
Artificial intelligence could assist with identification and analysis, but a designated field officer would have to verify the report. Hazards would be classified as emergency, high risk, medium risk or routine, with response periods ranging from four to 24 hours for emergencies to seven to 30 days for routine cases. Implementation was outlined in four phases, beginning with preparation, followed by Bengaluru, major cities and then the rest of the state.
The court also proposed governance committees, appeals, public reporting and digital records for significant public assets.
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