Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The guidelines issued by Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court ensure that a driver who has been challaned even once for the offence of overspeeding, drunken driving and dangerous driving is not employed for school transportation across the state.
An affidavit to this effect shall be obtained by the educational institution from the driver of the vehicle. The court also directed that the principal secretary (school education), collector and superintendent of police of each and every district of Madhya Pradesh shall give due publicity to the aforesaid guidelines/ directions in all the schools providing transportation facilities to their students and they shall be responsible for strict compliance.
Key guidelines
(1) Each school bus shall be painted yellow and ”School Bus” or ”On School Duty” as the case may be written on the front and rear of the vehicle. The name, address and telephone/mobile number of the vehicle incharge shall be written on a 09-inch board strip on the outer side of the school bus on both sides.
(2) The buses shall have a horizontal grill fitted on the windows.
(3) Coloured films on glasses and curtains shall not be used on the windows.
(4) Each school bus shall have a first aid kit and fire extinguisher.
(5) Each school bus shall have an attendant trained in first aid, safety of students and in dealing with emergencies who shall assist students in boarding and de-boarding.
(6) The school buses shall be operated by drivers who have held permanent driving licences and have a minimum of five years of experience in driving heavy vehicles. Such drivers will not be employed who have been challaned (fined) on more than two occasions in one year for offences like violating the lane system violating signal lights or allowing an unauthorised person to enter.
A driver who has been challaned even once for the offence of overspeeding, drunken driving and dangerous driving shall not be employed. An affidavit to this effect shall be obtained by the educational institution from the driver of the vehicle.
(7) Other than students, the school bus is permitted to carry only guardians of students or teachers of educational institutions who may travel to check safety norms.
(8) Each school bus shall have space to keep school bags under the seat. (9) The school buses shall operate within the prescribed speed limit. Each bus shall be fitted with a speed governor.
(10) Each school bus shall have an emergency door on the right side which shall be closed property and shall be opened only in emergency.
(11) The doors of the school buses shall be fitted with a reliable locking system.
(12) No pressure horn shall be fitted in school buses. During operation, at night the school buses shall have blue colour bulbs fitted inside.
(13) The school buses shall be regularly maintained and cleaned.
(14) For contract vehicles, a valid fitness certificate under Section 56 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (No.59 of 1988) shall have to be obtained.
(15) Each school bus shall have a valid insurance certificate, pollution control certificate and certificate of payment of taxes. (16) No school bus shall be more than 12 years old.
HC also gives following directions
(1) In the case of auto-rickshaws personally engaged in the transportation of students to schools, not more than four persons including the driver can be seated.
(2) The Regional Transport Officer, Dy. SP / CSP Traffic of each and every district in the State shall be responsible for the proper implementation of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, the M.P. Motor Vehicles Rules and the aforesaid guidelines.
(3) Every Principal of Government and the management/owner of Private School management shall appoint/ nominate/ authorize any senior teacher/staff member as Vehicle Incharge to monitor the registration, condition, safety norms and route of the school buses and in case of any violation he/she shall be responsible along with the school management.
(4) Every ”School Bus” or ”On School Duty” shall have a GPS tracking system and a CCTV camera so that the vehicle can be tracked and viewed by the parents through the mobile app.
(5) Every school management shall depute a male/female teacher, as the case may be, who shall travel along with the students in the bus from the first till the last stoppage of the route.
(6) There shall be regular medical check-ups for the drivers and conductors and also monitoring of their criminal activities.
