A major controversy erupted during a Madhya Pradesh High Court hearing into the June 27 traffic jam on the Indore-Dewas highway, after a lawyer representing the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) questioned why people left home “so early with no work.” His remark, perceived as insensitive and dismissive, sparked public outrage, especially since the 40-hour-long jam led to the deaths of three people, including two from heart attacks and one who died before reaching a hospital.
The case was being heard by Justices Vivek Rusia and Binod Kumar Dwivedi at the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a citizen trapped in the jam. The court has issued notices to:
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NHAI’s Delhi and Indore offices
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Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
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Indore District Collector
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Indore Police Commissioner
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The construction and toll companies managing the highway
In response to the uproar, NHAI clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the lawyer’s statement was unauthorized and did not reflect the agency’s official stance. They announced that a show-cause notice had been served to the advocate for making unapproved and inappropriate comments in court.
“The remark from the advocate was made without any authorisation from NHAI. Accordingly, a show-cause notice has been served,” NHAI posted.
The traffic jam—spanning over 8 kilometres and affecting more than 4,000 vehicles—has brought NHAI’s infrastructure management under sharp scrutiny. The chaos was reportedly triggered by road repair delays, which were in turn linked to a 10-day strike by crusher units. Despite this, NHAI had sought 3 to 4 months to complete the roadwork, a claim now under judicial review.
The High Court has demanded detailed explanations within seven days from all parties involved to determine accountability and prevent similar disasters. The incident has amplified concerns over infrastructure mismanagement, the human cost of poor planning, and the lack of emergency protocols on national highways.
