Madhya Pradesh High Court Prohibits Hiring Drivers with Multiple Traffic Offenses in Schools.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has prohibited educational institutions in the state from hiring drivers who have received fines for offenses like speeding, drunk driving, or reckless driving. This rule is part of a set of guidelines aimed at improving the safety of children on school buses, as well as those from coaching centers, sports academies, and local organizations. The Court responded to concerns following a tragic accident in 2018 involving a bus from Delhi Public School, Nipania, Indore, which resulted in the deaths of four students and the driver. After this incident, many parents approached the Court to demand better safety measures for school transport.
The Division Bench, consisting of Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Binod Kumar Dwivedi, stated that school buses must be operated by drivers with permanent licenses and a minimum of five years of experience with heavy vehicles. The Court declared that drivers who have been fined more than twice in a year for offenses like lane violations or ignoring traffic signals cannot be employed. Additionally, any driver who has been fined even once for speeding, drunk driving, or dangerous driving is also disqualified. Educational institutions must obtain an affidavit from the driver confirming this information.
The Court found a major gap in local rules regarding school buses, in addition to existing driver guidelines. Although the Madhya Pradesh government made laws in 2017 to control private school fees, there were no rules for managing school buses. This was different from Chhattisgarh, where the government updated its Motor Vehicle Rules in 1994 to set special conditions for school bus permits. As a result, the Madhya Pradesh High Court instructed that similar guidelines be created until the state government changes the M.P. Motor Vehicles Rules to include school bus regulations.
The Court stated that every “School Bus” or “On School Duty” vehicle must have a GPS tracking system and a CCTV camera, allowing parents to track and view the bus through a mobile app. Additionally, schools must appoint a vehicle in-charge to ensure safety and manage bus routes. To enhance safety, the Court also required that a teacher accompany the students on the bus. The Court ordered that “Every school management shall depute a male/female teacher, as the case may be, who shall travel along with the students in the bus from the first till the last stoppage of the route.”
Cause Title: Pramod Kumar v. Govt. of India & Ors., [2024:MPHC-IND:34320]
