Drivers must be disqualified, fitness certificates of vehicles that do not follow rules must be canceled; says HC

KOCHI: The High Court of Kerala has said that vehicles including tourist buses that do not comply with security rules must be banned. This must be executed by the state police chief through district SPs, and Transport Commission, and officers of the Motor Vehicle Department. The instruction was given by the bench consisting of Justices, Anil K Narendran, and PG Ajithkumar. The instruction was passed in the background of the Vadakkanchery bus accident.

Pictures and videos of tourist buses with banned flashlights, multi-tone horn, and high-power audio is spread through social media. It was shown in court yesterday. The court then instructed that actions must be taken against these vehicles and that the license of the drivers must be confiscated and disqualified. In addition, the court has asked for the details of the vloggers who give publicity to these buses. The fitness of these buses must be canceled.

The court also asked for a report on the Vadakkanchery accident from the police and Motor Vehicle Department. In addition, the court has asked the Central Government what actions will be taken against these vloggers.

The court had suo moto taken the case in the burning of a tourist bus when the students of Engineering College in Kollam lit a firecracker. The court asked for the report on the basis that the orders of the court in the Kollam incidents were not followed. The plea will be taken on 10th October. The court observed that the tourist bus involved in the Vadakkanchery accident had a multi-tone horn, high-power audio, and eye-blinding colorful lights.

Justice Devan Ramachandran intervened in the matter on his own after a passenger in the KSRTC bus informed him of the accident. The court orally said that Kerala must not be turned into a killing field and strict actions must be taken to avoid it. Drivers use public roads as if it is their private property. Their casualness is the reason for such accidents. The Single Bench said that this was the reason for yesterday’s accident too. Following the observation, the court made the Transport Commission a party to the case.

The court ordered the Transport Commission to be present today afternoon in person or online and explain the actions taken to reduce accidents. The court also asked the National Highway Authority for an explanation on the complaint that there were no street lights in the area where the accident took place. The government explained that overspeeding by the tourist bus was the main reason for the accident.

The High Court also said that accidents are becoming frequent because drivers do not fear the law. If they are found to violate laws they can easily escape by paying a fine. This must change said the court. Justice Devan Ramachandran made this observation.

The court also accused the government of not implementing the order and rules which say that vehicles must have GPS, an Emergency button, and speed-governor. It also asked if the roadside cameras and the policemen did not notice that the tourist bus was speeding. If the authorities take strict actions for violation of rules, then drivers will not be as careless. That is why drivers slow down when they see cameras. Malayalees follow traffic rules when they live in foreign countries. There must be someone to monitor these things.