Introduction:

A contempt petition has been filed against top officials of Haryana for allegedly disregarding the Court’s order on implementing the Surkashit School Vahan Policy, following a tragic accident in Mahendragarh where 6 students lost their lives due to a drunk school bus driver crashing into a tree. Bal Kranti Trust filed the plea, asserting that officials failed to uphold safety measures mandated by the policy, despite directives from the High Court.

Arguments:

Bal Kranti Trust contends that officials, including the Principal Secretary to the Government of Haryana and the Transport Commissioner, are accountable for neglecting safety measures outlined in the policy. Conversely, the Joint Transport Commissioner (Road Safety), Haryana, submitted a status report claiming effective implementation of the Surakshit School Vahan Policy 2014, highlighting regular checks on school buses. However, the petitioner alleges discrepancies between the report and the actual implementation, pointing to the tragic accident as evidence of negligence.

Court’s Judgment:

The Court must carefully assess the evidence presented by both parties to determine whether the officials indeed breached their duties, leading to the tragic accident. If proven, appropriate action must be taken to hold the responsible officials accountable and prevent similar incidents in the future.