Nagpur: In a serious revelation that raises alarming concerns over student safety, a total of 837 school buses in Nagpur city are reportedly plying without valid fitness certificates. Responding to the issue, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the School Education Department and the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to file an affidavit by Thursday, July 10.
The matter was heard on Tuesday by Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Sachin Deshmukh, as part of a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) that was initiated in 2012 following the tragic death of 8-year-old Virat Zade, who was run over by a school bus.
During the hearing, Amicus Curiae Senior Advocate Firdos Mirza informed the bench that a recent inspection conducted in June identified 837 school buses as unfit. He expressed concern that these buses continue to operate without undergoing mandatory safety checks, thereby endangering the lives of thousands of students.
Mirza further highlighted the failure of school and district-level committees, the RTO, and local police in enforcing proper inspections and regulatory measures. He also drew the court’s attention to the incomplete implementation of crucial safety features such as Vehicle Location Tracking (VLT) systems and Speed Limiting Governors (SLG).
Taking cognizance of these lapses, the High Court has directed the authorities to provide detailed reports on the condition of school buses and the measures taken for the academic years 2023–24, 2024–25, and 2025–26.
Ask ChatGPT
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com