FIR sought against Pulwama school over bus accident

PULWAMA — The Jammu and Kashmir Transport Department has sought registration of an FIR against the management of Future Pack Secondary School, Shadimarg, Pulwama, for allegedly operating a school bus in violation of statutory safety requirements, following an accident that left 11 students injured.

In a communication dated November 12, addressed to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Pulwama, Joint Transport Commissioner Rizwan Asgar requested the police to initiate legal action against the school management and other concerned authorities.

According to the communication, a school bus bearing registration number JK01M-2712, operated by Future Pack Secondary School, met with an accident and overturned at Darbgam village in Pulwama on November 11. The bus was carrying 13 students, of whom 11 sustained injuries in the accident.

The Transport Department said it had received reports that the vehicle was being operated without fulfilling the mandatory statutory requirements prescribed under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

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The communication stated that the vehicle had reportedly neither been produced before the competent Transport Authority for the required inspection nor possessed the mandatory documents and valid permit necessary for its lawful operation as a school bus.

Terming the matter serious, the department said the alleged negligence of the school management had exposed the lives and safety of schoolchildren to grave risk.

It said such negligence, if established, would constitute a serious violation of the Motor Vehicles Act and other applicable laws.

The Joint Transport Commissioner requested the SSP Pulwama to direct the concerned Station House Officer (SHO) to register an FIR against the school management and other concerned authorities under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

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The department also called for an investigation to ascertain the responsibility of the school management and other persons involved in operating the vehicle in violation of prescribed safety norms.

The police have also been asked to furnish an Action Taken Report (ATR) to the Transport Department for further necessary action.

Copies of the communication have been forwarded to the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, RTO Kashmir and ARTO Pulwama.

The ARTO Pulwama has also been asked to pursue the matter with the concerned authorities for lodging an FIR.