Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed the state transport commissioner to start a mobile application to receive feedback from parents about the school bus and other transport services being used by their children so that guidelines can be framed for the safety of children. The court also directed the commissioner to collate information and data on school buses and formulate safety norms for school transport for different areas keeping in mind their peculiar needs. The court further asked the state to frame a policy for auto rickshaws that get children to school as the same was preferred by parents.
A division bench of justices Naresh Patil and N.W. Sambre was hearing a public interest litigation filed by PTA United Forum seeking directions to the state to formulate a policy for the safety of children using transport services in light of various mishaps, some of which were fatal too.
When the matter came up for hearing government pleader Abhinandan Vagyani informed the court that the state had formulated draft guidelines for school buses in the state and was in the process of finalising it under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Act.
The bench however questioned as to whether there were any fixed guidelines on the minimum and maximum capacity of the vehicles.
The bench stressed on the fact that there were many places in the state where children were being ferried to and from school in vehicles in a very precarious way.
“Parents are more concerned about their children going and coming back from school safely, however they do not pay attention to the discomfort in which their children travel. However, it does not mean that the state keeps on interfering everywhere,” said Patil.
Suggesting the need to frame proper guidelines, the bench directed the state transport commissioner to undertake many initiatives to sensitise the parents as well as have a feedback platform to address the woes of parents directly.
The court also asked the commissioner to take feedback from school managements and other stake-holders while formulating the guidelines and posted the matter for hearing on January 22.
