Road rage: Cops call for restraint, psychologist moots mental health certificate for driving licence
Bengaluru (PTI): With road rage incidents becoming frequent in metropolitan cities, including Bengaluru, a senior police officer has appealed to the people for restraint and to call the authorities instead of taking law into their hands.
A prominent psychologist in Bengaluru has suggested that a mental health certificate should also be made necessary while issuing driving licence.
The appeal came after two horrific incidents of road rage came to light in a span of four days in Bengaluru where a young biker dragged a septuagenarian for almost a kilometre on January 17 and a man was dragged on the bonnet of a car for over a kilometre on January 20.
In Rajouri Garden area in New Delhi, a man was dragged on the bonnet of a car this month. Delhi Police said they arrested the accused and booked him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Last year in November, a pharmacy owner was beaten up black and blue after his car brushed against a motorcycle in Dayalpur area of Delhi.
Pointing out that the two recent cases in the city had gone to extreme levels because of road rage, Bengaluru Special Commissioner of Police Traffic M A Saleem told PTI that people get into fights after accidents, which lead to heated exchange of words and then violence.
Such cases are dealt very severely by police in Bengaluru city and cases are registered against them, he added.
Referring to the two cases that turned the focus on Bengaluru, Saleem said: "These two cases are totally uncivilised. I can say these are heinous cases wherein attempt to murder cases have been taken up by the police and stringent action has been taken against the people who even assaulted the motorists."
"The Bengaluru traffic police has a series of campaigns, particularly to counter road rage. In fact, the Traffic Training Institute and Research Centre as well as our traffic warden admissions committee conduct a series of campaigns to educate people about good behaviour on the road," Saleem said.
The police have also upped the surveillance system in the city by installing 7,500 CCTV cameras across the city under the 'Safe City' scheme.
Blaming stress on trying to reach the destination on time as the main reason behind such incidents, the police officer appealed to the people to leave for their place at least 10 minutes before so that there is no stress on the person to reach on time amid traffic.
Saleem also urged people to call police whenever they spot a possibility of trouble emerging on the road.
"The police response time is very quick in Bengaluru city. Just 10 minutes and immediately police will come and investigate the matter and take appropriate measures as per law," the officer said.
However, noted city-based psychologist Dr Geetha Appachu, who is the head of Swapreran, a psychological counselling and wellness clinic, said the problem lies with issuing driving licence as a small precaution regarding mental health of those applying for the licence would make people more comfortable while commuting on the road.
The road rage issue, according to her, could be related to displaced and pent-up anger surfacing on the road where people tend to feel like yelling at fellow commuters or pedestrians.
Dr Appachu felt there was a need to understand the underlying personality issues, which can be easily done.
"There are simple tests available which can be done in order to not just understand somebody's driving skill. Yes, there is so much checking happening even for a driver's licence. But then, can we also bracket in a few more precautions that am I in normal, healthy mental state too? That will make us more comfortable on the road as well as everywhere," the psychologist said.
According to her, this will be one of the best ways to support youngsters who apply for licence after turning 18. "Today, it's not about affording a vehicle. It's about driver's licence coming with responsibility," Dr Appachu said.
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CJI calls for 'unified judicial policy', use of technology to converge practices across courts
Jaisalmer (PTI): Pushing for a "unified judicial policy", Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said technology can help align standards and practices across courts, creating a "seamless experience" for citizens, regardless of their location.
He said high courts -- due to the federal structure -- have had their own practices and technological capacities, and "regional barriers" can be broken down with technology to create a more unified judicial ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address at the West Zone Regional Conference in Jaisalmer, Kant proposed the idea of a "national judicial ecosystem" and called for an overhaul of India's judicial system with the integration of technology.
"Today, as technology reduces geographical barriers and enables convergence, it invites us to think of justice not as regional systems operating in parallel, but as one national ecosystem with shared standards, seamless interfaces, and coordinated goals," he said.
He emphasised how the role of technology in the judiciary has evolved over time.
"Technology is no longer merely an administrative convenience. It has evolved into a constitutional instrument that strengthens equality before the law, expands access to justice, and enhances institutional efficiency," he said, highlighting how digital tools can bridge gaps in the judicial system.
Kant pointed out that technology enables the judiciary to overcome the limitations of physical distance and bureaucratic hurdles.
"It allows the judiciary to transcend physical barriers and bureaucratic rigidities to deliver outcomes that are timely, transparent and principled," he said, adding that the effective use of technology can modernise the delivery of justice and make it more accessible to citizens across the country.
The CJI called for implementing a "unified judicial policy".
He said India's judicial system has long been shaped by its federal structure, and different high courts have their own practices and technological capacities.
"India's vast diversity has led to different high courts evolving their own practices, administrative priorities and technological capacities. This variation, though natural in a federal democracy, has resulted in uneven experiences for litigants across the country," he said.
Kant underscored that predictability is crucial for building trust in the judicial system.
"A core expectation citizens place upon the courts is predictability," he said, adding that citizens should not only expect fair treatment but also consistency in how cases are handled across the country.
He pointed to the potential of technology in improving predictability.
"Technology enables us to track systemic delays and make problems visible rather than concealed," he said.
By identifying areas where delays occur, such as in bail matters or cases involving certain types of disputes, courts can take targeted action to address these issues and improve efficiency, Kant said.
The CJI explained that data-driven tools could identify the reasons behind delays or bottlenecks, allowing for faster, more focused solutions.
"Technology enables prioritisation by flagging sensitive case categories, monitoring pendency in real time and ensuring transparent listing protocols," he said.
Justice Surya Kant also discussed the importance of prioritising urgent cases where delays could result in significant harm. He highlighted his recent administrative order that ensures urgent cases, such as bail petitions or habeas corpus cases, are listed within two days of curing defects.
"Where delay causes deep harm, the system must respond with urgency," he stated, explaining that technology can help courts identify and expedite such cases.
Kant also raised the issue of the clarity of judicial decisions.
He noted that many litigants, despite winning cases, often struggle to understand the terms of their judgment due to complex legal language.
"Although the orders had gone in their favour, they remained unsure of what relief they had actually secured because the language was too technical, vague or evasive to understand," he said.
He advocated for more uniformity in how judgments are written.
"A unified judicial approach must therefore extend to how we communicate outcomes," he said.
The CJI also discussed the role of AI and digital tools in improving case management. He pointed to the potential of AI-based research assistants and digital case management systems to streamline judicial processes.
"Emerging technological tools are now capable of performing once-unthinkable functions. They can highlight missing precedent references, cluster similar legal questions, and simplify factual narration," he said, explaining how these technologies can help judges make more consistent decisions.
He also highlighted tools like the National Judicial Data Grid and e-courts, which are already helping to standardise processes like case filings and tracking.
Kant reiterated that the integration of technology into the judicial process is not just about improving efficiency but about upholding the integrity of the system and strengthening public trust.
"The measure of innovation is not the complexity of the software we deploy, but the simplicity with which a citizen understands the outcome of their case and believes that justice has been served," he said.
