The court also directed the state government to spell out its stand on a plea by two Congress leaders for quashing of approval.
The Kerala MVD has procured 726 cameras, of which 675 have AI capabilities.(Wikimedia Commons)
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday, 20 June, directed the state government, Keltron, and several private companies connected with the installation of artificial intelligence (AI) cameras under the Safe Kerala initiative to spell out their stand on a plea by two Congress leaders for quashing of approval given to the project.
A bench of Chief Justice Sarasa Venkatanarayana Bhatti and Justice Basant Balaji also directed the state government not to make any financial payments as part of the project without seeking further clarification from it or till further orders.
The court issued a notice in this regard to the state government, its transport, finance and industries departments, Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd (Keltron). and several private companies connected with the tender process and installation of the cameras under the project.
The bench also directed the two Congress leaders — Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala — to file an additional affidavit “on their zero tolerance towards corruption”.
The court said it sought the affidavit to infuse more transparency in the decision-making process.
The petitioners challenged the LDF government’s orders regarding the installation and operation of the AI cameras across the state, alleging “illegalities, nepotism, favouritism and corruption” in the grant of contract under the project and its implementation.
They demanded the quashing of the administrative sanction and the comprehensive administrative approval given to the “Automated Traffic Enforcement System for Safe Kerala” project.
Their plea has also sought a declaration from the court that SRIT India Pvt Ltd, which was given the work contract by state-run Keltron, was unqualified to participate in the tender process as they need to have expertise in traffic signal monitoring and satisfy the stipulations in the tender document.
The petitioners also wanted the service level agreement between Motor Vehicle Department and Keltron, the letter of intent issued to SRIT and the agreement entered between Keltron and the private company to be declared illegal and be set aside.
Besides, they sought a court-monitored enquiry into the project and its execution.
Chennithala and other Congress leaders have been alleging that the Left government had indulged in some irregularities in awarding the tender to SRIT to set up a fully-automated traffic enforcement system.
In April this year, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the Safe Kerala Project, which included installation of the AI cameras, envisaged to reduce road accidents and traffic violations in the state.
The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) has procured 726 cameras, of which 675 have AI capabilities.
Public sector undertaking Keltron has been tasked with manufacturing and maintaining the camera network.
The Kerala government had, in 2020, entered into an agreement with Keltron for the project.
Despite the Congress alleging irregularities and corruption in installing artificial intelligence (AI) cameras as part of the much-hyped Safe Kerala Project, the ruling LDF government has decided to go ahead with its initiative.
Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeev, on 19 May, termed the controversy over the installation of Artificial Intelligence cameras as part of the Safe Kerala Project as “baseless”, and said that the tender process was completely transparent.
(With PTI inputs)
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
