HC issues directions on maintaining transport corpn buses, rules to scrap old vehicles
Bengaluru (PTI): The High Court of Karnataka has ordered that high-mileage government transport corporation buses should be scrapped for the safety of passengers and road users.
The order came on a petition filed by a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) driver who was convicted for culpable homicide after the bus he was driving caused an accident in which two school-going children were killed.
Noticing that the bus that was involved in the accident had run for over 10 lakh kilometres and was not in good condition, the HC issued six directions on maintaining KSRTC buses including framing of rules to scrap old vehicles.
”In this case, the said offending bus had already run more than 10,00,000 km and the vehicle was not having ignition starter, horn and brakes. The passengers, who were travelling in the said bus were compelled to push the said bus to get it started. The condition of the bus which is brought on record is quite alarming,” the HC noted.
Directing KSRTC to provide better quality buses, Justice Ramachandra D Huddar said, ”As per the rules framed by the KSRTC on completion of particular running of kilometres and such buses are bound to be scrapped and such scrapped buses should not be permitted to be used for any scheduled routes either to the cities or to villages.” The other guidelines issued by the HC include that the mechanical department of the KSRTC should certify every bus is ”fit for road”, and only such buses with the certificate should be permitted to ply on roads.
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Every year, the KSRTC authorities should obtain a certificate from the RTO concerned for all the buses and only such vehicles should be allowed to ply the roads. The HC also directed that ”There shall be periodical mechanical examination and repair of the buses.” The court had questioned the public relations officer who had stated that the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) operates 2,300 buses which have run more than nine lakh km.
”When such a large number of people are commuting every day by buses maintained by the corporation, it is the duty of KSRTC to ensure better quality of buses to ply on the road keeping in mind the safety of the passengers who travel in KSRTC buses and also the users of the road to avoid any casualties,” the HC said.
The petitioner, Satish, was driving a KSRTC bus in Ankola on KC Road when the accident took place.
Three children, Dhananjaya (13), his brother Mrityunjaya (12) and friend Abhilash Maruti Gaonkar (12) were returning home when the bus hit them from behind.
Mrityunjaya and Abhilash died in the accident. Satish was put on trial and found guilty for culpable homicide, causing grievous hurt and rash and negligent driving. He was sentenced to undergo imprisonment for one year for culpable homicide and rash and negligent driving and two months imprisonment for causing hurt.
The Sessions Court upheld this conviction which he challenged in the HC.
The HC while upholding the conviction, modified the sentence from one year imprisonment to six months imprisonment. The HC said that the driver was negligent and he should have refused to drive a vehicle that was not in a fit condition.
”When the accused was having knowledge of the condition of the bus, the accused could have refused to take the said bus on a public road on a specified route as observed by the Trial Court. With regard to the threat by the superior officer of the accused that the accused would lose his job, the accused has to see the safety of the road users as well as inmates of the bus. But he has not thought of the same and has taken risks,” it said.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
