The Bombay High Court today came down heavily on the Maharashtra government for failing to comply with orders passed a decade ago in connection with measures taken with regard to drunken driving, following the 2002 road accident involving Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.

A division bench headed by Justice D D Sinha was hearing a public interest litigation filed by journalist Nikhil Wagle, seeking enhancement of punishment awarded under section 304 A of IPC for causing death by rash and negligent act and increase in compensation awarded under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The scribe had filed the PIL soon after the road accident involving the 46-year-old actor. On September 29, 2002 an inebriated Salman's Toyota Land Cruiser run over five persons sleeping on a pavement in Bandra.

He was arrested the next day and booked under sections 304 A, 337 and 338 of IPC. However, he was released on bail of Rs 950 immediately at the Bandra police station as all the sections were bailable.