Nagpur: Taking a serious note of increasing road accidents involving teenagers who zoom away with two-wheelers in ‘Dhoom-style’ without valid license the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court posed a pointed query to State Government: Who is responsible for these tragedies? The Court observed that “Teenagers, while going to schools, tuition classes, take two-wheelers of their parents and meet with accidents. When boys and girls below sixteen years of age are not given licenses to ride two-wheelers how they are seen riding the vehicles openly. Who is responsible for this violation?” was the question the High Court posed to the State Government over a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). After hearing in the matter, Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Pradeep Deshumkh slapped notices on Secretary of Home Department, Transport Commissioner, Nagpur Commissioner of Police and Regional Transport Officer.
While going to tuition class a 15-year old boy caused an accident in which a woman was killed. In this case, action under children’s rights, protection and rehabilitation law was initiated against the boy. Now, a chargesheet was also filed against him. Hence the parents of the boy moved the High Court and challenged the chargesheet. Hearing in the matter was held before Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Pradeep Deshumkh. The judges had termed the subject as vast and had advocated a discussion through a Public Interest Litigation and had directed to file a PIL.
Now-a-days, parents hand over keys of vehicles to teenage children going to schools, colleges and tuition classes. After finishing the schools and tuition classes, the children ride the vehicles recklessly and subsequently invite the accidents and cause fatalities. Teenagers below sixteen years of age can be given license to drive only 50 cc engine-vehicles. However, they are seen riding 100, 150 and 200 cc vehicles openly. Such practice needs to be curbed, said the PIL.
Adv Shrirang Bhandarkar drafted the PIL and filed it and also argued in the matter as amicus curiae (friend of the court). The next hearing in the case will be held after three weeks.
