Nagpur: Raising serious concerns over student safety, the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has come down heavily on the education authorities for failing to ensure compliance with crucial school transport safety norms.
A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Raj Wakode sharply reprimanded the Deputy Director of Education for ignoring earlier court directives in a long-pending public interest litigation related to school bus safety. The court noted that despite clear instructions issued on March 17, no compliance report was submitted, exposing what it termed as a “complete disregard” for judicial orders.
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The court’s strong observations underline a deeper issue, administrative apathy towards the safety of thousands of school children who rely on buses and vans daily. Even during the hearing, officials failed to present any concrete data, further intensifying concerns over monitoring and enforcement.
During proceedings, it was revealed that at least 41 schools are yet to comply with mandatory requirements, including submission of records of Transport Committee meetings held over the past two years and details of vehicles used for student transport. These committees are critical for ensuring that safety norms, such as vehicle fitness, driver verification, and emergency preparedness, are followed.
Taking a firm stand, the court granted a final deadline of June 18 for schools to file affidavits. It warned that non-compliance would invite strict action not only from the Deputy Director of Education but also from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), along with financial penalties.
The bench initially directed the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department to initiate action against the erring officer. However, following a request by Additional Government Pleader Adv D.P. Thakare, the court temporarily held back punitive action, making it conditional on full compliance and a written assurance of accountability going forward.
Meanwhile, the State informed the court that 86 pending bus stops would be finalised within 15 days to facilitate installation of safety signages. Authorities also assured that verification of all school buses and vans would be completed within a month, ahead of the reopening of schools.
The court has further directed the Traffic Police and the Regional Transport Office to submit compliance affidavits before the next hearing, signalling a multi-agency push to address the issue.
The case, assisted by amicus curiae Adv Firdos Mirza and Adv Isha Thakare, has once again spotlighted a troubling reality, while policies exist on paper, their enforcement remains weak, leaving student safety vulnerable on the roads of Nagpur.
