Tribunal stays suspension of Nagpur RTO officer in school vehicle accident case

The Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal MAT on Friday granted interim relief to Kiran Bidkar the Nagpur Regional Transport Officer RTO who was suspended over alleged negligence linked to a fatal school vehicle accident that occurred in 2025 reported PTIThe tribunal stayed Bidkarrsquos suspension and directed the Maharashtra government to allow him to resume his duties immediately pending further hearings in the matter The order came after Bidkar challenged the disciplinary proceedings initiated against him under the Maharashtra Civil Services Rules reported PTIldquoThe order of suspension stands stayed till further orders The applicant shall be permitted to join the post today itselfrdquo the tribunal stated in its interim order issued on FridaySuspension Linked To Fatal School Vehicle AccidentBidkar was suspended earlier this week in connection with a September 12 2025 accident involving a school van and a school bus in Nagpur The collision claimed the lives of a student and the driver of the school van triggering scrutiny over compliance and enforcement measures related to school transport vehicles reported PTIAccording to the Maharashtra governmentrsquos suspension order the school van involved in the accident was allegedly operating without a valid fitness certificate at the time of the crashAuthorities alleged that Bidkar as the head of the Nagpur RTO office had prima facie shown ldquodereliction of duty negligence and laxityrdquo in carrying out his responsibilities related to vehicle fitness and regulatory oversight reported PTIFollowing the incident the state government initiated disciplinary proceedings against him under the Maharashtra Civil Services Discipline and Appeal Rules 1979Tribunal Seeks Government Response In The MatterWhile granting interim relief the tribunal also directed the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit responding to Bidkarrsquos petition challenging both the suspension order and the disciplinary action initiated against himThe case is expected to examine whether administrative lapses within the RTO office directly contributed to the operation of an allegedly unfit school vehicle and whether the suspension was justified under service rules reported PTIThe tribunalrsquos intervention effectively allows Bidkar to continue functioning in his official capacity until further orders are passed after hearing detailed submissions from both sidesSuspension Came Days After Praise From Nitin GadkariThe suspension gained attention because it came just days after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari commended Bidkarrsquos work related to road safety awareness and enforcement measures in NagpurIn a letter dated May 2 Gadkari praised several initiatives undertaken under Bidkarrsquos supervision including road safety campaigns awareness drives training programmes for school bus and autorickshaw drivers helmet rallies and stricter traffic enforcement through electronic challan systems reported PTIAccording to the letter these initiatives had contributed to a reduction in road accidents and fatalities in Nagpur cityThe timing of the suspension shortly after the appreciation from the Union minister sparked discussions within administrative and transport circles regarding accountability enforcement responsibility and regulatory oversight in cases involving road accidents and public safetyFocus Returns To School Transport SafetyThe case has once again brought attention to the safety standards of school transport vehicles and the enforcement mechanisms governing fitness certification and compliance checks across MaharashtraRoad safety experts have repeatedly highlighted concerns regarding overloaded school vehicles expired permits lack of fitness certification and insufficient monitoring by authoritiesThe tribunalrsquos upcoming hearings are likely to determine the future course of disciplinary proceedings against Bidkar while also shedding light on the broader issue of accountability in school transport regulationWith inputs from PTI