Motor Vehicle Act and Supreme Court guidelines govern deployment of school buses to ferry school children to and from schools. The Supreme Court laid down strict guidelines on what the buses should provide by way of safety of the kids. It also suggested sever punishment in case of negligence on the part of the owners of the buses in meeting the standard laid down. Not observing these guidelines in letter and in spirit is tantamount to criminal act and defaulters deserve to be given exemplary punishment.
Two types of buses carry the kids to and fro. Either the buses are the property of the schools concerned or these are hired by the schools and ply according to schedule on identified routes. Whatever the case, the buses have to strictly observe the guidelines like painting the buses yellow as a mark of distinction, writing School Bus in bold letters on the front and the back of the bus, providing First Aid Box, horizontal grills and door locks, space under the seats for keeping haversacks and the services of an expert attendant who knows how to handle the kids. Likewise strict conditions have been laid down for the drivers and conductors of the buses. In addition, the traffic inspectors are required to undertake monthly checking of the buses, engines, wheels and all other equipment so that no risk is to taken.
These are commendable instructions from the Supreme Court. Apart from this, the school buses are first and foremost to be treated as public transport vehicles which mean that all clauses of Motor Vehicle Act are applicable to them. But despite these clear orders. The Regional Transport Officer has stated that there have been cases where the guidelines of the Supreme Court were violated, and the buses had to be challaned. He further stated that there have been cases of such bus plying on roads without proper permit from the Transport Department. A number of private educational institutions are reported to be not strictly adhering to the stipulated norms and thus they endanger the lives of our national treasure meaning the school going children.
There are no two opinions on the question of providing foolproof safety and security to the school going kids when transported through private or public vehicles. Officially it is the duty of the driver and the conductor to ensure that all requisite provisions are at hand. But at the same time, the head of the institution and the staff in charge of safety of kids are also answerable. It is also their duty to subject the vehicle to scrutiny and ensure that all that the guidelines stipulate is provided without fail. It is necessary that the head of the institution and concerned staff should be held responsible for any mishap. We would even go to the length of suggesting that occasionally and at random the school staff in charge of transport should board the bus when the school closes and the kids are to be dropped at their homes. They would personally supervise the efficiency with which the kids are handled and brought to their destinations. No lapse whatsoever is acceptable in this behalf. Traffic authorities should forthwith put the buses off the road if these are not equipped with necessary paraphernalia or lack all preventive equipment. Parents are also advised to check the bus before they let their wards board it to ensure that everything is in order. They have the right to make a complaint to proper authorities if they see anything amiss. This brings us to the conclusion that a concerted effort and collective responsibility have to be accepted by the bus owners, school staff and the parents.
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