You will be held accountable for every pothole on the roads, HC tells PWD engineers

The Kerala High Court has put engineers on notice: every pothole could soon come with personal consequences. On July 30, the court made it clear that individual accountability is the new norm when it comes to road maintenance.

Justice Devan Ramachandran said if there’s a pothole, someone will answer for it. The comment came after the amicus curiae flagged an alarming spike in road accidents across Kerala, particularly in Kochi, owing to poorly maintained roads and unchecked traffic violations.

Time’s up for ‘we’ll look into it’

During the session, engineers from the Kochi Corporation and the Public Works Department sat through a sharp critique of the state’s crumbling roads. Reports submitted in court pointed to deep-rooted problems—poor infrastructure upkeep, lack of timely maintenance, and a breakdown in traffic enforcement.

The senior government pleader acknowledged the state’s responsibility and agreed that road inspections and safety measures are clearly within the engineers' job profile. But acknowledgment, the court hinted, is not enough anymore.

Justice Ramachandran stressed that the days of hiding behind bureaucratic layers are over. “Real action will have to follow, and the concerned officers and engineers made personally accountable,” he said, adding that the court expects direct, visible results, no paperwork gymnastics.

Kochi’s chaos puts spotlight on traffic rules

The court also flagged the increasing menace of reckless driving, particularly by heavy vehicles in Kochi. Taking a broader view, the High Court directed that all traffic safety measures proposed by the Transport Department for Kochi must now be rolled out across the state.

Officials have been asked to issue the necessary orders and report back. Delays won’t be entertained, and the next hearing is scheduled in two weeks. By then, the court expects solid updates—not empty status reports

‘Lives are being lost, and someone must answer’

In an observation, Justice Ramachandran reflected on the human cost of these accidents. “The cries of families who lose loved ones on account of road accidents caused by potholes is something that is harrowing and which cannot be left unseen by this Court,” he said.