The Madras High Court on Wednesday said there was no need to halt road traffic for dignitaries, including the state governor, the chief minister and chief justice, PTI reported. The High Court said that even if traffic is stopped, it should not be for more than 10 minutes.

The bench comprising Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose said exceptions may only be made when the president and the prime minister are visiting.

“As far as possible, traffic should not be stopped for more than five to 10 minutes or so for the purpose of the movement of vehicles of high dignitaries,” the bench said.

The High Court was hearing a PIL filed by advocate S Doraisamy seeking action against city traffic police officials for allegedly stopping him near the High Court in March 2017, PTI reported. He claimed that the traffic police had stopped him as the chief minister was on her way to RK Nagar in North Chennai for a political meeting. Doraisamy said he missed his doctor’s appointment as a result.

The court, however, said no action was warranted against the traffic police authorities. “The petition is disposed of by directing the respondent police authorities to ensure proper traffic regulation and free flow of traffic to the extent possible,” the bench said.