Kerala High Court has directed the State government to suspend all payments for the Safe Kerala Project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reducing road accidents through the installation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras across the State. The order comes following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by prominent Congress members, VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala, demanding a court-monitored inquiry into the project.

Chief Justice SV Bhatti and Justice Basant Balaji, presiding over the division bench, issued the directive to the State, halting any further payments until the Court issues subsequent orders. The bench emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and complete probity in the decision-making process surrounding public trust, as highlighted by the petitioners.

Remarkably, the Court requested the petitioner-politicians to submit an additional affidavit outlining their own policy of zero tolerance for corruption in their duties. This step underscores the bench's commitment to upholding integrity and fairness.

The "Automated Traffic Enforcement System for Safe Kerala" project aimed to utilize AI cameras to capture traffic violations and issue notices to offenders throughout the State. However, the PIL alleged nepotism, favoritism, and corruption in the tendering process for the installation of these cameras. It further contended that the involvement of private entities jeopardized citizens' right to privacy, in addition to contravening provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act and Rules.

The opposition leaders implicated a pyramid-style corruption scheme that started with awarding the work order to a State government company called KELTRON, despite objections raised by the finance department. Subsequent tenders and sub-leasing to SRIT India Pvt. Ltd. and Presadio Technologies Pvt. Ltd. allegedly continued this pattern of corruption.

During today's hearing, Senior Advocate George Poonthottam raised concerns about the legality of changing the project's development model from BOOT to an annuity model involving quarterly payments to KELTRON. The Court agreed to examine the PIL from this perspective and scheduled the next hearing in three weeks.

The High Court's decision to halt payments for the Safe Kerala Project signifies a pivotal moment in the ongoing investigation into corruption allegations. As the case unfolds, the spotlight will remain on ensuring transparency and fairness in public projects, safeguarding citizens' rights, and upholding the principles of accountability in governance