From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jun 20: Even as the operators of the old vehicles carrying school-going children to and fro from the residence to schools and back observing strike against the State Government’s decision to strictly enforce the Supreme Court ruling on retiring more than 15-year-old school vehicles, Karnataka’s Transport Minister B Ramalinga Reddy has declared that there was no going back on the rule.

''Protection and safety of the school-going children is our primary concern,” the minister said talking to reporters on Thursday, and made it clear  that there was no question of any compromise on demands of the Karnataka United School and Light Motor Vehicle Drivers Union.

The minister said the government will strictly implement the Supreme Court order on mandatory retiring of school vehicles more than 15 years old.

''I know the strike by the vehicle operators has seriously inconvenienced the parents and students. But our hands are tied as we have no alternative than implement the Supreme Court order. The safety and protection of school-going children cannot be sacrificed,” he said.

The minister said the State Government issued a notification directing all private school vehicle owners to strictly adhere to the guidelines and stop operating vehicles 15 year old from May 1, 2013.

The Government had issued the notification on January 18, 2013 and sufficient time had been given to the vehicle owners to make alternative arrangements and comply with the changed norms.

However, he said the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has been operating additional 100 buses in Bangalore city since Wednesday in order to benefit the students.

Reddy explained that the Supreme Court in its two orders in 1997 directed the state governments to ensure safety of schoolchildren while transporting them to school in private vehicles.

The apex court had banned operation of 15 years old vehicles, he said.

Moreover, as per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, the seating capacity of the vehicles has been fixed at 13, he clarified.

All school vehicles should restrict the speed limit to 40 kmph and must compulsorily install speed governors, he said.

The private school vehicle operators have been strictly told to follow 13 guidelines, including, the carrying the complete details of children indicating name, class, residential address and blood group along with the vehicle driver, the minister said.

He explained that even the High Court of Karnatakahad rejected a petition of the Karnataka United School and Light Motor Vehicle Drivers Union on June 17.

“Our motto is to ensure safety of the schoolchildren. We will not succumb to the demands of the Union. We are strictly implementing the Supreme Court order,” the Minister said.

Pointing out that there have been several accidents involving school-children in the past, Reddy said the public would blame the Government if any mishaps occurred by relaxing rules, including use of old vehicles.