Nagpur: In a shocking display of indifference towards student safety, more than 460 schools operating buses in Nagpur district are staring at a Rs 50,000 penalty each after failing to comply with repeated directives of the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court regarding school transport safety.
Despite multiple warnings, court orders, and an extended deadline, only 38 schools submitted affidavits certifying that their school transport committees had conducted regular meetings and monitored the safety of students travelling in school buses. The remaining institutions have failed to furnish the mandatory information, raising serious questions about their commitment to the welfare of children entrusted to their care.
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The matter will come up for hearing before the High Court on June 18, where the scale of non-compliance is expected to come under sharp judicial scrutiny.
The issue stems from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the safety of school transportation. Earlier this year, the High Court had directed all primary, secondary and higher secondary schools operating buses to submit details of transport committee meetings held over the last two years, along with information on vehicles used for ferrying students. Schools were warned that failure to comply would attract a cost of Rs 50,000.
However, when the matter was reviewed, the response from educational institutions was found to be alarmingly poor. During a hearing on March 17, amicus curiae Firdos Mirza informed the court that only 38 schools had complied with the order. Taking serious note of the situation, the bench directed the Deputy Director of Education (DDE), Nagpur, to issue fresh notices to all defaulting schools.
Accordingly, DDE Madhuri Sawarkar issued a notice on May 29, reminding schools of the consequences of ignoring the court’s directives and extending the deadline to June 10. Yet, even after the additional opportunity, the compliance figure remained unchanged at just 38 schools.
The massive gap between compliance and non-compliance has exposed what many parents describe as a disturbing culture of negligence. More than a decade after the High Court first took suo motu cognisance of unsafe and unregulated school transport following a series of accidents and complaints, hundreds of schools continue to ignore basic accountability measures designed to protect children.
Under state government regulations, every school operating buses is required to constitute a School Bus Committee, hold meetings every term, verify the credentials of drivers and conductors, ensure vehicle fitness certification, and maintain records of safety compliance. Schools that do not operate buses must submit declarations to that effect.
In its observations, the High Court had clearly stated that the safety of students travelling in school buses and vans cannot be compromised and that schools should demonstrate greater concern towards the issue. The court also noted that mandatory transport committee meetings, which are required at least once every three months, were not being conducted by many institutions.
The continuing disregard for these directives has angered parents, who say schools are failing in their fundamental responsibility to ensure children’s safety.
“There should be strict verification of drivers, regular vehicle inspections, and GPS and CCTV systems wherever possible. Parents should not have to worry every day whether their children will reach school safely,” said one parent.
Another parent remarked, “We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for basic safety. Valid licences, roadworthy buses, adherence to speed limits, and accountability are minimum requirements, not optional measures.”
With several accidents involving school children reported in recent years, parents and child safety advocates argue that compliance with court-mandated norms is the bare minimum expected from educational institutions. As the High Court prepares to review the matter once again, hundreds of schools may now face financial penalties and tougher action for their continued failure to prioritise student safety.
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