Dinesh Kamath's news item 'SC’s order to have lady attendant in school buses being disobeyed' that was published in Newsband

SC’s order to have lady attendant in school buses being disobeyed

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Supreme Court had issued an order that a lady attendant should be provided to school buses with girl students. But it seems that some schools are not obeying the order. The order is also applicable for vehicles transporting more than 12 students including girls.

Dy (RTO), Vashi, Sanjay Raut, has strongly criticized those schools which do not implement the school bus rules 2011 framed by the state government.

He made a special mention of the rule relating to presence of lady attendants. Even the NMMC authorities are in consultation with the transport and school authorities to ensure that the apex court order was followed. Raut was of the opinion that the committees that have representatives from several sections of society including police and transport department can stem the violations.

Education department of NMMC can certainly play a crucial role by taking action against the violation of the apex court order.

It was found that there were around 500 illegal vehicles plying between Airoli to Panvel. One of the corporators demanded that action be taken against private vehicles ferrying schoolchildren. According to him there are some 500 private vehicles including buses, mini buses, jeeps, vans and others that do not have the permits as required and are violating various norms. Actually it is the duty of transport authorities to take action against such vehicles that are operating on the sly and illegally ferrying school students. The school authorities also need to enter into an agreement with transport contractors and thereafter intimate the transport office to issue the permit. However, some school principals have alleged that no action has been taken along this direction in spite of the complaints relating to this issue have been lodged by them at the transport office.