HC okays tough norms for school buses, drivers

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsThe State government on Monday submitted tough draft rules, which among other things stipulate a minimum experience of five years for drivers of school buses and road worthiness certificate renewal for vehicles every three months.Complying with a Madras High Court order to frame rules following the death of schoolgirl, S Sruthi, on July 25, the Tamil Nadu government submitted the draft rules.The proposed rules, ‘Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles (Regulation and Control of School Buses) Special Rules, 2012’ stipulate that a driver, to be eligible to ply school buses, must not have been fined more than twice in a year for offences, including jumping signal and permitting an unauthorised person to drive.All school buses must be painted in yellow and in no case be overloaded. Every school bus should have an attendant aged above 21 years and not beyond 50. The attendant has to get down first at halt points and help children get aboard and get off the bus. In the case of girls’ schools, bus attandants must be women.Schools must obtain roadworthiness certificate for their vehicles once in three months from the date of issue of renewal of Fitness Certificate (FC).All other regular norms like a valid driving licence for drivers and fitness norms for vehicles would hold good for school buses and drivers as well, besides the special requirements.Advocate General A Naveneethakrishnan submitted the rules to the Madras High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam on Monday.Expressing full satisfaction, the Bench directed the government to notify the rules after following due process of law. “If the rules are implemented in letter and spirit, at least accidents involving school buses will be minimised to a greater extent,” the bench observed. The HC took up the case on a suo motu basis following public outcry on the issue.first published:September 04, 2012, 10:57 ISTlast updated:September 04, 2012, 10:57 IST
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The State government on Monday submitted tough draft rules, which among other things stipulate a minimum experience of five years for drivers of school buses and road worthiness certificate renewal for vehicles every three months.

Complying with a Madras High Court order to frame rules following the death of schoolgirl, S Sruthi, on July 25, the Tamil Nadu government submitted the draft rules.

The proposed rules, ‘Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles (Regulation and Control of School Buses) Special Rules, 2012’ stipulate that a driver, to be eligible to ply school buses, must not have been fined more than twice in a year for offences, including jumping signal and permitting an unauthorised person to drive.

All school buses must be painted in yellow and in no case be overloaded. Every school bus should have an attendant aged above 21 years and not beyond 50. The attendant has to get down first at halt points and help children get aboard and get off the bus. In the case of girls’ schools, bus attandants must be women.

Schools must obtain roadworthiness certificate for their vehicles once in three months from the date of issue of renewal of Fitness Certificate (FC).

All other regular norms like a valid driving licence for drivers and fitness norms for vehicles would hold good for school buses and drivers as well, besides the special requirements.

Advocate General A Naveneethakrishnan submitted the rules to the Madras High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam on Monday.

Expressing full satisfaction, the Bench directed the government to notify the rules after following due process of law. “If the rules are implemented in letter and spirit, at least accidents involving school buses will be minimised to a greater extent,” the bench observed. The HC took up the case on a suo motu basis following public outcry on the issue.