Child Commission directs transport authorities not to impound school buses during school timings

Chandigarh, March 17, 2015: Chairman Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Punjab, Sukesh Kalia took strong exception to the undue harassment caused by the Transport Authorities while checking the school buses in the state. Addressing a meeting of the officers of the commission while taking up cases came for the consideration of the commission, he has specifically asked the District Transport Officers not to impound the school buses during the school timings especially when children are there in the buses. Instead the bus contractors along with the school authorities could be called and asked to ensure the compliance report of the school transport as per the Supreme Court guidelines. Making it clearer, Kalia said that the guidelines of the Supreme Court be followed truly and asked the transport authorities to make sure that the school children should not be harassed while checking the vehicles.

Taking suo motto notice of the news item published in the newspapers regarding the accident of the School bus of SRBS Public School occurred in district Faridkot, Kalia has summoned the Chairman Managing Committee of the school to personally come along with the true copies of the school bus records and driving licences of the drivers.

The chairman has also asked all the DTOs of state to send the schedule of checking the school buses to the schools under their jurisdiction so that a compliance report of the vehicles could be prepared in keeping with the directions of Supreme Court. He has also expressed concern that the drivers driving having licences of the “Goods Vehicles” were driving the school buses which was highly objectionable and illegal. Kalia has also asked the Transport officers to ensure complete security of the school children commuting in school buses and also check and verify the documents including the valid licence of the drivers. The school authorities be also given appropriate time to complete their records before sending to the commission failing which a strict action would be initiated against the school authorities, he said.

Referring to his recent Assam visit on the occasion of the Child Protection Day being observed by the commission, Kalia said that he has already written to the Labour Commissioner urging him to get the child labour laws implemented strictly in the state on the patterns of Meghalya government. He said that although child labour was banned in the country but due to the stringent steps taken by the Meghalya government the child labour has been decreased drastically over the years. Kalia also suggested that each and every eating joint, business establishments and other common places should have boards displayed against child labour. Child Welfare Committees have also been directed to ensure the strict implementation of the child labour laws in the state.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Secretary Punjab State Commission for protection of Child Rights Sumer Singh Gurjar and deputy director Rajwinder Singh Gill.