Allahabad HC Orders School Transport Safety Committees Across UP
The Allahabad High Court has directed UP authorities to activate district and school-level transport safety committees and monitor compliance with school vehicle safety rules.
The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure that district school vehicle safety committees meet regularly and that school transport safety committees are constituted and made functional in schools across the state. The directions were issued by a Lucknow bench while hearing a public interest litigation concerning compliance with safety rules for vehicles carrying schoolchildren.
The court asked the chief secretary to issue necessary instructions and ensure that district-level committees monitor the formation and functioning of school-level safety panels. District magistrates have also been directed to oversee compliance and submit information within one month. The matter is scheduled to be heard again on September 28.
During the proceedings, the court was informed that Uttar Pradesh's motor vehicle rules prescribe specific safety requirements and permits for vehicles transporting schoolchildren. The Transport Commissioner reportedly told the court that most school vans do not have the required permits.
The rules provide for district committees headed by district magistrates, along with school-level transport safety committees. The court was informed that school-level committees were currently not functioning.
The court also directed that CBSE and CISCE be made parties to the PIL so that schools affiliated with these boards comply with statutory transport safety requirements. The order puts the focus back on a basic question: if safety committees exist on paper, they need to exist beyond paper too.
