Repeat offenders can face action from institutions, after notice to parents
Students used to footboard travel on buses, beware. You may face removal from your institutions.
The first bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, passed further orders on Wednesday on the suo motu public interest petition relating to Monday’s Kandanchavadi tragedy.
It said, “If any student is found travelling on the footboard, the matter may be reported not only to the parents of the student, but also to the principal of the school/college/educational institution concerned. If he repeats the same thing, the school may take action for removal of such students, after notice to the parent.”
Four students travelling on the footboard of an MTC bus were crushed to death after they were caught between the bus and a lorry. Taking note of the tragedy, the High Court had directed advocate general A. Navaneethakrishnan to seek instructions from the government regarding safety measures it proposed to take to prevent such tragedies.
When the matter came up, Karuna Sagar, additional commissioner of police, traffic, Chennai, filed a detailed affidavit on the safety measures that had been taken so far, which included stringent action against footboard travellers.
He also said whenever footboard travel was observed, the buses concerned were stopped and such travellers made to alight. Awareness programmes too were being conducted, he said.
The principal secretary, transport, said it has been proposed to augment ‘students’ special’ buses. Also, a committee comprising MTC officials, the traffic police and student representatives will be formed to provide counselling to students.
The High Court bench directed the additional commissioner of police, traffic, Chennai, to implement the suggestions.
Keywords: punitive action, accident, footboard travellers, Chennai
When these judges took the case suo motu, I was happy, expecting them to criticize the government for not providing adequate and safe transport. But alas No, it is the poor student to blame - the student who didn't have any other choice of affordable travel.
Ask these judges grandchildren to travel by Bus, then they will know whom to blame.
Just wondering, if tomorrow a bus runs over pedestrians, will our learned high court judges penalize the people walking on the road for lack of pavement or the government for not providing a foot path?
The problem with our country is neither the legislature, the executive nor the judiciary, live like the comman man. They are drivin in AC cars and their servants handle the day to day issues including dealing with government offices.
They have no idea about the hardship faced by us. They have generators for power failures. Their living expenses are paid for by the government so they don't care about prices. They don't care about security and unlit streets because they are always guarded.
I used to go to school in chennai and i used to travel by foot board, hanging for dear life. I didn't do it out of pleasure. I did it as that was the only place available to stand in the Bus. Do they even know how much your hands pain hanging like that!
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