Abstract
The constitution of India guarantees us equality before law, and the constitution being the supreme law obligate all the citizens of democratic India to follow the laws set by it. But it has been seen often that the power of the VIPs have been suppressing common man’s right which is resulting very costly for common people. This article aims to address one of many of such instances in which common who is the taxpayer has to suffer due to infringement of his constitutional rights when restricted forcefully in traffic due to any VIP movement.
Keywords: Constitution, Equality, Common Man, Restricted, VIP Movement
India is a democratic and sovereign country with a population of over 1.4 billion, making it the most populated country in world. The citizens on the Indian soil are protected under the umbrella of the Indian constitution, which gives equal rights and protection to people of India. The constitution is the supreme law of the law and every law made is made subsidiary to constitution. No law made must be contradictory to constitution. But there are ‘n’ number of instances where practically constitution is defeated to give undue privilege to a certain class of people.
Nowadays there are a noticeable number of cases where the roads are closed and people are restricted to move when the VIPs are given first priority to proceed before the public causing the public stuck in traffic. The citizens are facing significant damage due to the forced halt at such traffic which is even extending to cost life of a person in several cases.Recently, in November 2025, the Maharashtra transport minister took wrong turn which caused locals and travellers stuck in traffic. People out of misery stopped the minister and asked to turn back. This incident is not only about VIP culture, it is about how the public servants who are elected for serving public and nation are making public itself suffer and acting in contradiction to law.
On 7th April 2025, over 25 students missed their JEE (main) examination at Pendurthi due to traffic restrictions for deputy Chief Minister convoy. To this issue the Visakhapatnam police gave statement that students were supposed to reach the centre by 8:30 AM and the convoy was issued at 8:41 AM. Unfortunately, they did not consider any other factor such as the distance from candidates’ home to centre, other traffic the candidate has to come across which maybe time consuming as India has there are around 260 million two-wheelers and 50 million cars on Indian roads[1], any other mishap or incident which can make candidates from reaching early to the exam centre and the convoy which could have been done later rather than in during the exam time of the JEE aspirants.
Another incident took place on 13th may 2024 in Patna. The people and road travellers along with the peddlers had a tough time due to the PM’s convoy which was passing through and the roads were closed for more than an hour even peddlers weren’t allowed to go. The weather was hot and humid causing discomfort to the citizens. There were ambulances stuck in the traffic which had patients I critical condition. But they couldn’t move for medical help as the roads were closed for the PM’s convoy. The most relevant question which arises here is, was the PM’s convoy more important than saving a person who was in critical and when every second mattered to save his life?
In 2010, Anil Jain a 46-year-old man died in Delhi after the ambulance taking him to the hospital was restricted in traffic for 30 minutes due to the PM’S convoy. He lost his life after the most significant 30 minutes of his life was restricted for a convoy to take place. This wasn’t the very first instance as in 2009, Sunit Verma a kidney patient died in Chandigarh as the entrance of the hospital was blocked due to PM’s convoy.
Even the children, who are considered as the bright future of the nation aren’t immune to the “VIP CULTURE”. On 15th august 2025, a 12-year-old girl in jodhpur was hit by an dumper truck and died in ambulance as the ambulance was restricted for VIP movement for independence day celebration as the chief minister was attending the function. The VIP culture has been making us believe that the practical enforcement of law is different from the textbooks and written laws as this is sometimes claiming citizens life or costing them irreparable loss and damage.
The people of India are the taxpayers who pay tax to run the government and country and elect the politicians as ministers to develop the country and make it better place for nation’s people to live in peacefully. But these instances arise reasonable doubt, whether the ministers and other VIPs actually obliged to the people for electing them to serve nation and for rightful payment of taxes to administer the country.
The Indianconstitution guarantees some basic rights known as fundamental rights which are covered in the Indian Constitution under Part III, from Article 12 to Article 35. These rights protect an individual from being exploited and ensures dignity, equality, and freedom, such as speech, religion. Article 14 states right to equality before law, every individual is equal before law and makes every individual bound obey the law. If everyone is supposed to be equal then why the VIP’s mere crossing the road or travelling given more priority over the citizen’s rights and life. These circumstances are enough evident that the enforcement of law and constitution itself is lacking behind the power of fame and wealth.
Article 19(d) of the Indian constitution gives citizens right to move freely throughout the territory of India. But the citizens are restricted from moving totally even when there is an emergency. Article 21 right to life and personal liberty is a fundamental right which includes right to live and health, but considering some of the above mentioned situations it seems to defeat the essence of the rights vested upon the Indians by the constitution.[2]In 2018, the Hon’ble Madras High court gave a verdict on the PIL filed addressing this issue that the traffic cannot be restricted for more than 5 to 10 mins for any dignitary to pass through the road and traffic restriction should be avoided as far as possible. Though this wasn’t applicable to the president’s visit as the president being the first person of the nation is coming under high level security. This order of hon’ble madras high court though gave some relief to the people yet did not give a remedy to the problem as under the Indian constitution the movement of VIPs isn’t a reasonable ground for article 14 and 19(d) to be considered inapplicable. Further, the emergency situations weren’t considered, in which a patient is hung in between life and death. The VIP movement has become a menace violating the fundamental rights of citizens. even after the Hon’ble Madras High Court’s judgement in 2018, the traffic was restricted for more than 30 mins and even one hour in several circumstances.
In 2024, the Hon’ble Supreme Court issued a verdict, directing the government to not block the roads in the name of VIP vehicles as it causing inconvenience to public[3]. To which the home ministry demanded dismissal of order as blocking the roads for few minutes does not violate the general public’s right to movement. The ministry’s demand and reason to dismiss the order was indecorous as it did not consider the fact that even ambulances were stuck in the restricted traffic due to the VIP movements. It is a clear violation of citizen’s fundamental rights and constitution itself.
The foundation of the constitution is the principle of rule of law which means that no one is above god and law. When the spirit of law is defeated the law becomes null and void.
[1]Vehicle Ownership in India, Data for India, https://www.dataforindia.com/vehicle-ownership/ (last updated July 30, 2025).
[2]Madras High Court Says Traffic Should Not Be Halted Beyond 10 Minutes for VIP Movement, The Hindu (Mar. 8, 2018), summarized in NDTV, Economic Times&Scroll.in reporting; accessible at https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dont-block-road-traffic-beyond-10-minutes-for-vips-hc/article22937648.ece (last visited Jan. 12, 2026).
[3]SC directs govt not to block roads in the name of VIP vehicles, The Annapurna Express (Feb. 20, 2024), https://theannapurnaexpress.com/story/47655/ (last visited Jan. 12, 2026).
Author Name- My name is Ritika Das, a 5th year BA LLB(H) Student of Soa National Institute Of Law.
