Ahmedabad

The Gujarat High Court today issued notices to various state government authorities while hearing a PIL seeking a directive on the issue of school children being crammed in autos.

This is being is termed as gross violation of fundamental rights of children by the petitioner.

After hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by Vadodara based advocate Biju Nair, who appeared as party-in-person, High Court bench comprising acting Chief Justice Jayant Patel and justice V M Pancholi issued notices to Gujarat government, the state Transport Commissioner and the Commission for the Protection of Child Rights.

Since the Gujarat High Court had taken up this matter suo motu in 2006 and asked the government to frame rules and regulation in this regard at that time, it also asked the state transport department to submit those rules and regulations before the court on January 28.

To substantiate the case, the petitioner has attached several photos showing 15 to 16 children crammed inside one auto.

According to the petitioner, such practise is going on in major cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat.

The PIL contended that as per Motor Vehicle Act, a maximum of six children in the age group of 4 to 12 can be accommodated in one auto. Citing a past judgement of the Gujarat High Court, the PIL also stated that the limit was later on raised to 8 in Gujarat.

However, the petitioner alleged that no rules are followed by auto drivers to maximise their profit as the autos can be seen cramped with 12 to 15 children.

The PIL pleaded that the government needs to step-in to stop such practise which is risky for children.

Further hearing has been scheduled on January 28. PTI