This Kerala High Court judge used the Kochi Metro to commute to court after waterlogging on jammed roads

Heavy rains and consequent waterlogging in Kochi forced Kerala High Court judge Justice Devan Ramachandran to depend on the Kochi Metro for his commute to court on Tuesday this week..The functioning of the High Court was also delayed by incessant rains that day with the benches sitting at 11 am instead of the normal time of 10.15 am..Justice Ramachandran boarded the metro train with his gunman and driver after his official car got stuck in traffic due to the flooded roads. Justice Ramachandran even recounted his experience in open court “I came by metro; roads were all blocked. Metro is better,” he said..It was quite ironic considering that Justice Ramachandran, in his capacity as a judge, had passed several orders over the past few months pulling up government authorities and local bodies for flooding in city during monsoon, caused by choked drains and dilapidated road conditions.He has been hearing a petition that was filed in the year 2018 regarding the blockage of the Perandoor canal within the Cochin Corporation resulting in inundation of roads.Over the years, the Court had passed various orders in the case to control the management of the drains of flood mitigating systems of the city on a regular basis..In May this year, considering the relentless rain that resulted in flooding, Justice Ramachandran passed an order directing the Secretary of Cochin Corporation to take action against those who dump garbage blocking canals..In the same order, Justice Devan Ramachandran directed the Corporation to advertise the measures that would be taken to make citizens aware of their duties..On August 5, the single-judge observed that due to action taken by the concerned authorities pursuant to the Court's order, there was successful control of flooding even after orange alert was announced in Kochi on August 1..While hearing the case on Wednesday, Justice Devan Ramachandran appreciated the efforts taken by the Director of Vigilance and Anti- corruption action with respect to the roads in Kerala and said that the Vigilance should continue to do their work and make inspections.The Director informed the Court that the samples of “road cutting” have been sent to the competent laboratory for examination and that, on obtaining the technical report with respect to the same, cases will be registered, if found necessary.Justice Ramachandran then told the Director to ensure that all culprits, howsoever high, must be brought to book and dealt with under the most stringent provision of law.“This Court certainly appreciates the action taken by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau and expects the Director to keep an overall view and ensure that all culprits, howsoever high they may, is brought to book and dealt with under the most stringent provision of law,” the Court said.The Court further said in its order that it will seek explanation from the District Collectors if there are any further road accidents solely on account of potholes and craters being left unattended. “Needless to say, I must remind the District Collectors that this Court will certainly seek explanation from them, should there be any further accidents solely on account of potholes and craters being left unattended; and it will be certainly for them to ensure that such aspects are dealt with under the Disaster Management Act, through their subordinate officers or those under their command," the Court made it clear.