TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Pending approval of ‘Goa School Bus Rules’ by the State government, the Transport Department has made public, the rules and directions drafted by the Amicus Curiae of the High Court for ensuring safety of school children while traveling in buses.
The rules which make it mandatory for each aided and unaided school to appoint a school safety officer, and hold him responsible for transport arrangements for school children, have been kept open for public suggestions or objections for next 10 days.
The rules were drafted following High Court directives while hearing a suo moto petition in which the court has taken cognizance of the traffic management system in the State after going through newspaper reports relating to the Calvim mishap that claimed six lives, including those of four school children, in February 2012. The Amicus Curiae appointed for the case was then Adv M S Sonak.
The Court was informed by the department about drafting a comprehensive Goa School Bus Rules, on the lines of rules framed by Maharashtra and Kerala, which are pending for approval and which will be immediately implemented once approved.
The School bus rules, which were framed based on Supreme Court guidelines, make it mandatory for all school buses to have a uni-colour- Yellow. Transport department also has to depute 12 dedicated motor vehicle inspectors, one in each taluka to ensure regular implementation of traffic rules by school buses. Surprise checks by police to ensure the safety are also recommended.
The Amicus Curiae is of the opinion that since the draft bus rule policy is not applicable to other private and commercial vehicles which ferry students, a special directions be issued to them, considering the overcrowding in such vehicles while carrying students.
The Court had directed government to consider the suggestions given by Amicus Curiae and also invite suggestions from other members of the public and experts in the field, and after taking into consideration the relevant rules and regulations, take appropriate steps for implementation of the suggestions so that in future such incidents do not take place.
Committee constituted
PANJIM: The Government has constituted a Committee of the following members after the direction was issued by the High Court of Bombay at Goa, while hearing a PIL to consider the suggestions given by the Amicus Curiae, invite suggestions from experts and the public and take appropriate steps for implementation of suggestions for ensuring safety of school children while traveling in buses.
The committee members are: Director of Transport – Member Secretary; Gurunath Kelekar (MARG) – Convenor; Adv Subhash Sawant – Member; Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Panjim – Member; and Collector, North Goa District, Panjim – Member.
