India, Oct. 24 -- The Bombay High Court has put in place a clear and enforceable system for citizens to claim compensation for injuries and deaths caused by potholes, open manholes and poorly maintained roads.

The directions, issued in a detailed order passed on October 15 in a long-running suo-motu (on its own) public interest litigation, mark a major step towards accountability of civic authorities and contractors who build and maintain public roads across Maharashtra.

The court, which has been monitoring the issue since 2013, noted that despite repeated orders, potholes continue to cause deaths and serious injuries, especially to two-wheeler riders. Noting that this was a recurring issue every monsoon, a bench of justices Revati Mohi...