Jharkhand High Court has ordered the state government to provide masks and sun glasses for traffic constables manning the streets of the state capital.

A division bench of Chief Justice Virender Singh and Justice P.P. Bhatt, while hearing a PIL on Wednesday, noted with concern the gruelling work conditions of traffic policemen and said they deserved protective gear to save themselves from lung and eye ailments.

Mentioning Chandigarh, where the police had been provided with goggles to protect their eyes from the glare of the sun and dust on roads, Justice Singh said he was sure that such gear would help Ranchi police perform better.

The police, he noted, would see clearly who was the offender before them and would fine them as per law. There would be no fear or favour extended to anyone in maintaining the law, he said.

The judges also directed the state government to ensure auto rickshaws with licence be painted green, the change over done within six weeks. The idea, the bench said, was to differentiate between those with a licence and those without.

The bench also directed the administration to crack down on vehicles using pressure horns. Private buses, as well as school buses and commercial vehicles, should also be checked for pressure horns and penalised if these weren't removed.

Commenting on the rising sound pollution in the capital, the court ordered the special committee constituted for checking pollution to consult religious institutions to find an alternative for public address systems installed in their respective institutions.

During the course of the hearing, additional advocate general informed the court that three plots had been identified in the HEC area for installing LPG auto refilling stations. These plots were at Satellite Colony, Jagannathpur and SBI Dhurwa.

Three other sites near Sai Hospital in Bariatu, Harmu Housing Board and Hinoo had also been short-listed, said the advocate general, and talks were on to finalise them.

The Court then directed the housing board to provide land for installation a refilling station.

How long will it take the state to implement the court order? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com