Days after four innocent lives were lost in Sangrur school van accident, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the same seeking report from the State Transport Department by March 18 — a week prior to the next date of hearing.
Notably, in a tragic incident, four school children were charred to death after a van, which is 30 years old, ferrying them caught fire on the outskirts of Longowal town in Sangrur district on Saturday. The driver of the school van and the school principal were arrested.
The Commission, comprising of PSHRC chairperson Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari and Member Justice Ashutosh Mohunta, took suo-motu cognizance of this matter while treating the news reports as complaint and called for report from the state through State Transport secretary before the next date of hearing, March 25, 2020.
“Keeping in view the gravity of the violation of human rights demonstrated by the fact that unfit and not roadworthy vehicles are being used for ferrying the children, by school in question, this Commission considers it a fit case for taking suo moto cognizance in the matter,” observed the Commission.
The Commission requisition a report from the State Transport Secretary regarding how many unfit and not roadworthy vehicles are being plied in every district in the state by the schools, and what steps are being taken by the State against the violators of the Motor Vehicles Act carrying school children in such buses, and what remedial steps will be taken by the State to avoid such incidents in future.
“The State shall reply as to how many motor vehicle inspectors are posted in the State of Punjab for granting fitness certificates,” directed the Commission, adding that the report “be submitted, with three extra copies, seven days prior to the next date of hearing”.
The Commission observed that the kids who died were students of Simran Public School on Dhilwan road of Longowal. The school van violated almost all norms laid down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court mandated Safe School Vahan Scheme.
“According to reports, the 1990’s model petrol vehicle, fitted with an LPG cylinder, was bought by the school authorities on Friday and deployed to ferry children for the first time on Saturday.
The vehicle caught fire soon after it exited the school premises to drop off the children,” noted the Commission.