The Regional Transport Office in Dakshina Kannada has registered cases against 30 vehicles found transporting schoolchildren in violation of safety and permit requirements during a special inspection drive conducted with the police department.
The enforcement action followed complaints that private vehicles were being used to carry school students without complying with mandatory safety measures. Murugendra Shirodkar, Deputy Transport Commissioner and Senior Regional Transport Officer of Dakshina Kannada, said officials identified 30 vehicles violating the rules during inspections across the district.
The transport department has issued notices directing the owners of the vehicles to pay penalties. Owners who violate the rules for the first time will be fined ₹5,000, according to the department. Six vehicle owners have already responded to the notices, and a total of ₹30,000 has been collected from them, an RTO official said.
The department said repeat violations could lead to stronger action. After a penalty has been paid, vehicle owners who repeat the offence will be issued a notice asking why their vehicle registration should not be suspended. If the response is not considered satisfactory, the department may proceed with cancellation of the vehicle registration, the official said.
Under the rules cited by the department, using vehicles with white number plates to transport school students for payment is an offence under Section 63(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Vehicles used for school transport are required to obtain a special permit and follow prescribed safety standards.
The department said operators must not carry more students than the seating capacity of the vehicle. The requirements also apply to autorickshaws used to transport schoolchildren. Vehicles with seating capacity above 18 must have an additional staff member, apart from the driver, to supervise the students during the journey.
Owners of school transport vehicles have also been directed to keep their documents updated and properly maintained. The department said action would be taken against owners who fail to renew or maintain the required records.
The latest inspections follow an accident involving a school vehicle in Kalladka a few months ago, in which a student died. During the inspection of that vehicle, officials found that its permit had not been renewed, according to the report.
The RTO said the special inspection campaign would continue in the coming days against vehicles transporting children in violation of the rules. The continuing inspections will focus on permit compliance, passenger capacity, safety measures and the maintenance of required documents.
