MARGAO: When this 14-year old minor girl, a ninth std student of a city-based school, rode to school on a battery-powered two-wheeler, little did one realise that her ride would trigger a debate amongst the school as well as transport authorities, besides parents and guardians.
The Motor Vehicle Act bars minors from riding a two-wheeler and they are in fact not entitled to a license. But, this battery-powered two-wheeler is indeed a subject of debate as law does not require registration of a battery powered two-wheeler with the authorities nor is the owner required to pay road tax, raising questions whether the rider is exempted from obtaining the mandatory driving license.
The issue cropped up when the girl rode to school on the battery-powered two-wheeler only to be questioned and pulled up by the school management.
The girl, sources said, was told in clear terms by the management that she cannot come to school on a two-wheeler and was asked to call her parents for an audience.
The girl’s father, Francis D’Silva, however, stoutly defended himself before the school principal.
D’Silva has contended that Motor Vehicles Act does not mandate a battery operated two-wheeler to register with the transport authorities and the rider is exempted from obtaining the driving license.
“I was asked by the school management how my daughter could ride the two-wheeler when she could very well take a school bus. But I am not convinced. Public transport is unsafe with instances of molestations on the rise and private vehicles packing students like sardines”, he said.
After much discussion and debate, the school management finally gave the green-signal for the girl student to come to school on the battery-operated two-wheeler, pending a decision from the transport authorities.
