HC stays implementation of school bus safety norms

The Bombay High Court has issued a stay order on school bus safety norms under the school transportation regulation and ordered the state government to issue fresh norms on July 31 after proper discussions on each norm.

Getting their way: The School Bus Owners Association had moved the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on the implementation of School Bus Rules 2011

The School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) had moved the high court seeking a stay on the operation and implementation of School Bus Rules 2011 till December 2012.

The petition submitted by the SBOA states that the association is not against the rules, which are for the safety of schoolchildren commuting in various types of vehicles that include school buses, but that they object to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) demanding that these rules be implemented even though they have not been legislated yet.

"There are a total 27 norms under the transportation regulation. We have objected about only five norms, including installation of speed governor," SBOA president Ajay Garg said. "If a school bus didn't fulfil any one of the norms from among the 27, the RTO was taking strict action, which was creating a lot of problems. Our demand is that all the norms should be properly discussed. To buy speed governors, government should not mandate their agencies because they are charging additional money."u00a0