MP HC seeks report on autos running without permits

Bhopal/Jabalpur: A division bench of the MP high court on Tuesday asked the state govt to file a fresh status report regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) on autorickshaws and school buses being operated across the state in violation of traffic rules, putting the lives of commuters and school children in jeopardy.
The petition, filed by advocate Satish Verma and Nagrik Upbhokta Margdarshak Manch, stated that autorickshaws being operated on roads in violation of traffic rules not only pose a threat to the lives of people but also cause traffic chaos in the cities.Additionally, school buses also do not follow traffic rules. They are run on unauthorised gas kits, and the first aid box is not kept in the bus. Children exceeding the capacity of the buses travel in them, but the administration has largely turned a blind eye to all this.
During previous hearings of the petition, the transport department admitted that 15,000 autos in Bhopal and 10,000 autos in Indore are being operated without permits. The maximum limit for the autos should be 40 km, and a vehicle tracking system is a must in the autos. Additionally, guidelines have been issued regarding the conduct of the drivers of the autos, their uniforms, and related issues. Permits for petrol/diesel autos older than 10 years will not be renewed, and they will be converted into CNG autos.
During the hearing of the petition on Tuesday, the bench of acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf asked the state govt to present a fresh status report on the issue. Advocate Aditya Sandhi appeared in the case for the petitioners.