State told to act against autos ferrying children

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed the state government to take action against three-wheelers ferrying school children. The court gave direction when the state informed that it had not issued any licence or permit to three-wheelers to ferry school children.

The court also asked the state to submit what action had been taken against such vehicles which did not meet the safety criteria fixed by the central government.

A division bench of Justice S.C. Dharmadhikari and Justice Riyaz Chagla were hearing a PIL filed by the Parents-Teachers Association United Forum, which sought the state government’s intervention to ensure proper implementation of school bus safety norms as laid down by the Centre in the Motor Vehicles Act of 2012.

The petition said that despite the Act putting down rules and guidelines and defining a school bus, the state had been issuing permits to vehicles with a seating capacity of less than 12+1.

Advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni Monday informed the court that while considering the safety and security of school children, the state did not permit auto-rickshaws to ferry them and in future too, it would maintain the same stance. He said that orders had been issued to the police department to take action against auto-drivers who illegally ferried school children.

AG Kumbhakoni also informed that from Monday till the first week of December, the police is conducting a special drive to catch such illegal vehicles. The state also told the court that even six-seaters did not meet the safety criteria as laid down by the Centre.

After hearing both sides, the court directed the state to submit at next hearing a report of the action already taken and the action to be taken against three-wheelers.

The court told the petitioners that they should create awareness among parents not to send their children in such vehicles.