The Kerala High Court special squads hit and run cases State Police Chief matter has led the court to direct the State Police Chief to establish dedicated special squads in every district to investigate and resolve unsolved hit-and-run cases.
Justice G. Girish issued the direction while hearing a batch of writ petitions filed by accident victims and the legal heirs of victims. The court expressed concern over delays in investigations that allow unidentified vehicles and offending drivers to remain untraced.
The court observed that such investigative failures can leave seriously injured victims and grieving families without justice or access to statutory compensation.
Three Investigations Transferred to District Crime Branch
The High Court directed the immediate transfer of three pending investigations to specialised District Crime Branch teams. The cases involve Crime No. 1540/2025 of Nedumbassery Airport Police Station, Crime No. 1170/2025 of Kallambalam Police Station, and Crime No. 391/2025 of Kadavanthra Police Station.
The court directed the State Police Chief to transfer the case files to teams headed by officers not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP).
The order came after the court took note of the lack of progress in the cases. One of the matters involved a bank employee who suffered permanent spinal injuries after an unidentified SUV allegedly struck the victim.
Court Highlights Impact on Victim Compensation
The High Court also examined the impact of untraced hit-and-run cases on victims and their families.
The Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2021, provides statutory relief to eligible victims. However, the court noted that the scheme can lose its practical effectiveness when police fail to identify the offending vehicle.
Victims may consequently face heavy medical expenses, loss of livelihood and long-term physical disabilities without adequate financial support.
The court observed that investigative failures can make statutory compensation mechanisms ineffective.
Special Squads to Receive Cyber and Forensic Support
The High Court directed the special squads to coordinate closely with local police stations. The teams must also receive priority technical assistance from cyber police units and forensic experts.
The court expects such coordination to improve the investigation of cases involving unidentified vehicles and unknown offenders.
The State Police Chief must also create public awareness about the special squads. Authorities must publish direct contact numbers to encourage witnesses and members of the public to share information.
Court Suggests Changes to Compensation Framework
The Kerala High Court special squads hit and run cases State Police Chief direction also addressed broader concerns about the existing compensation framework.
Referring to observations of the Supreme Court regarding inadequate statutory compensation, the Bench suggested that the Central Government consider legislative changes.
The court suggested examining amendments to relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Motor Vehicles Act.
The Bench also proposed dedicated funding mechanisms for hit-and-run compensation schemes. These could include allocating a portion of fines and imposing dedicated cesses on vehicle registrations, permits and insurance premiums.
The Kerala High Court’s directions seek to strengthen investigations and ensure that victims do not remain without justice or compensation because of untraced vehicles.
