Shimla admn asks cab drivers to comply with SC’s safety norms

SHIMLA The Shimla district administration has asked cab operators ferrying schoolchildren to comply with the safety guidelines framed by the Supreme Court within 10 days. This comes after the Himachal Pradesh high court directed the administration to this effect on Saturday.

Cab operators in Shimla were on strike on Friday to protest police action on them. Shimla deputy commissioner Rohan Chand Thakur said the high court has directed the administration to ensure safety of the schoolchildren. “We have convened a meeting and given the cab operators 10 days time to comply with the Supreme Court guidelines,” he said.

One Nitin Vyas had filed a petition before the HC requesting appropriate guidelines to ensure that cab operators ferrying schoolchildren are made to comply with the safety guidelines.

The vans used by these cab operators are generally found to be overloaded, thus endangering the students’ safety.

SC’S GUIDELINES

The Supreme Court in

asked all schools to designate transport managers who will ensure safe arrival and departure of the students.

The apex court directed that all school buses should be equipped with a first-aid box and a siren or alarm should be installed in them.

Besides this, the guidelines say that the school bus driver should not have been challaned more than twice a year.

Schools have been asked to make arrangement for the boarding and de-boarding of students. Parents are equally responsible safety of their children and have been asked to remain vigilant.