Police on Friday warned that strict action would be taken against those travelling on footboard.
N.T. Sivadasan, Superintendent of Police (Traffic), said footboard travel and the driver and the conductor who allow this in their vehicles are liable for punishment under Section 123 R/w of 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Madras High Court had also issued direction to the police in general to take tough action against those violating the rules related to footboard travel, following the recent Kandanchavady tradedy. It had directed police and other authorities to report about footboard travel in buses by students to their parents and heads of educational institutions.
If any student repeated the practice for the second or third time, the educational institution concerned might dismiss him after issuing show cause notice to the parent.
Mr. Sivadasan said the High Court direction was also applicable to Puducherry. It would be fully implemented. Parents and heads of all educational institutions and teachers have been asked to support the police in implementing the direction.
Traffic police officers have been directed to prosecute violators strictly. They would take down the names and addresses of students indulging in footboard travel and inform their parents and educational authorities concerned.
Drivers and conductors of the educational institution buses as well as State carriers have been told not to allow footboard travel in their vehicles at any cost.
If students were not listening to their advice, they could call the control room number at 100 or the traffic police officers concerned.
