Tracking devices: HC seeks details

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to inform it how many buses and other contract carriages have been fitted with vehicle-location tracking devices and panic buttons as required by the motor vehicle rules.

The court issued the directive when a writ petition filed by the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation against the government’s insistence on installation of the devices in buses for renewing the fitness certificate came up for hearing.

The action of the government was illegal, the petitioner alleged.

The government in a statement said the Motor Vehicles Department was bound to implement the rules requiring the stage carriages to install the devices.