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School Bus Guidelines: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued new guidelines for the operation of school buses while concluding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to the tragic deaths of four children after a Delhi Public School (DPS) bus crashed. jumped and crossed a road divider in Indore in 2018.
Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Binod Kumar Dwivedi of the Indore Bench on Wednesday concluded six public interest litigations relating to the DPS bus accident.
Madhya Pradesh High Court issues guidelines
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued several guidelines for school buses in the state requiring them to be equipped with GPS systems and CCTV cameras. These measures allow parents to track buses via their cell phones, ensuring greater safety and accountability.
“There is no special regulation for registration, approval and special conditions for school buses,” a bench of Justices Vivek Rusia and Binod Kumar Dwivedi said.
“Therefore, until the State Government makes arrangements by making amendments in the Madhya Pradesh Motor Vehicles Rules, 1994, this Court, in exercise of the powers conferred under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, shall have jurisdiction over the safety of children traveling in the buses thereunder “For private and government educational institutions, coaching centers, sports academies and local bodies etc., we deem it appropriate to formulate the guidelines,” it said.
The use of school buses older than 12 years is prohibited
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday issued guidelines banning the use of school buses older than 12 years. “No school bus can be older than 12 years. School buses must drive within the posted speed limit. Every bus must be equipped with a speed limiter,” the court noted.
“The school buses must be driven by drivers who hold a permanent driving license and have at least five years of experience driving heavy vehicles,” the court said.
Driver Guidelines
It also mandated that drivers who have been fined in the past for offenses such as speeding and drunk driving should not be employed. These measures are part of the court's efforts to ensure safer transportation for students.
“Drivers who have been fined more than twice in a year for violations such as lane system violations or signal light violations should not be employed,” the order said.
“A driver who has been fined even once for speeding, drink driving and dangerous driving cannot be hired. The educational institution must obtain an affidavit to this effect from the driver of the vehicle,” the court said.
On January 5, 2018, a speeding DPS bus jumped over the dividing line of the bypass road in Indore's Kanadia area and veered into the other side lane before colliding with a truck coming from the opposite direction. The bus driver and four school children between the ages of six and 13 were killed in the accident.
(With PTI inputs)
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