Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 15: The Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district has registered cases against 30 vehicles for violating rules while transporting schoolchildren in private vehicles without adhering to safety standards.
Several complaints had been received about school students being transported in private vehicles in the district without following the prescribed safety measures. Transporting schoolchildren for hire in vehicles bearing white number plates is an offence under Section 63(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. During an inspection conducted jointly by transport department officials and the police, 30 vehicles were found violating the rules, said Murugendra Shirodkar, deputy transport commissioner and senior regional transport officer, in a press release.
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“Notices have been issued to the owners of private vehicles used to transport students illegally, directing them to pay fines. A fine of Rs 5,000 is imposed for the first violation. So far, the owners of six vehicles have responded to the notices, and a total fine of Rs 30,000 has been collected from them,” a transport department official said.
“If the violation is repeated after paying the fine, a notice will be issued seeking an explanation as to why the vehicle's registration should not be suspended. If the response is unsatisfactory, steps will be taken to cancel the vehicle's registration,” the official added.
Vehicles transporting schoolchildren must comply with specific safety standards and obtain a special permit for the purpose. They must not carry more students than their seating capacity. These rules must be strictly followed even when schoolchildren are transported in auto-rickshaws. If a vehicle has a seating capacity of more than 18, an additional staff member, apart from the driver, must be deployed to supervise the students, the official said.
Owners of vehicles used to transport schoolchildren must ensure that all documents are kept in order and renewed on time. Action will also be taken against owners who fail to comply with these requirements.
A few months ago, a school vehicle in Kalladka met with an accident in which a student died. During the inspection, it was found that the vehicle's permit had not been renewed.
The deputy transport commissioner and senior regional transport officer, Mangaluru, said the inspection drive against vehicles transporting schoolchildren in violation of regulations would continue in the coming days.