Lucknow, The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure regular meetings of district school vehicle safety committees and the constitution of school transport safety committees in all schools across the state.
The court was informed that school vans are required to have an agreement with a parent or a group of parents. The agreement is to be submitted by the school to the competent authority, on the basis of which the permit is issued. The Transport Commissioner informed the court that most school vans do not have the permits required under the rules. Similarly, every school is required to constitute a school transport safety committee. Taking note of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Rules, the high court directed the chief secretary to ensure regular meetings of the district school vehicle safety committees and monitor the constitution and functioning of school transport safety committees.
The bench also directed that the Central Board of Secondary Education and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations be impleaded as parties to the PIL proceedings, so that statutory safety requirements relating to schoolchildren are also complied with by schools affiliated with these boards.
The court directed the chief secretary to issue necessary instructions to ensure that district school vehicle safety committees meet regularly and monitor the constitution and functioning of school transport safety committees in individual schools, according to the order. The court was also informed that the rules provide for the constitution of district school vehicle safety committees headed by the district magistrate and comprising officials from various departments as well as representatives of the school transport sector, according to the order. However, the court was told that such committees are currently not functioning in any school.
