VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
The government authorities have skipped the first notice served by the High Court of Bombay at Goa that sought a reply to a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on the failure to notify Goa Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) Rules, 2015.
The division bench of Justices F M Reis and K L Wadane had taken cognizance of Herald’s expose on how the Rules were not notified for last three years and Supreme Court directives on safe transport for school children were flouted.
The report with caption “25 in a van, 15 in a rickshaw: Children or Sardines?” published on September 2 also pointed out the department’s failure to take action against the private vehicles illegally operating as school transport.
The Goa government through acting Chief Secretary, Transport Director Arun Desai, Education Director G P Bhat, Deputy Superintendents of North and South Traffic Police; were asked to submit their replies by September 21. But with none submitting their replies, the bench adjourned the matter for two weeks.
“On perusal of the said report, we find that there are instances narrated therein to the effect that the children are being transported to schools in a very hazardous manner, without taking into consideration the recommendations and guidelines issued by the Apex Court, as well as the fact that such situations can lead to suffocation and affect the health and safety of the children whilst being transported to schools,” the court had observed.
Two days ahead of the hearing, the Transport Department published a notification inviting suggestions from the general public including experts in the field of road safety to finalise the long pending Rules. With the deadline of 15 days approaching in a week’s time, the department will scrutinize all objections and suggestions to take further action.
Among the detailed rules, the department has highlighted the necessity of contract carriage permits, grant of contract carriage permits to carry school children and the forming of Children Safety Committee and Children Transport Committee.
The department has also said they would have the power to approve the model of all vehicles that can be used as school buses and in doing so that the Transport Director shall ascertain the safety provisions provided by the manufacturer keeping in mind the safety of children.
