Plying of buses without insurance; authorities seek time to file reply

In the case of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the plying of Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) buses on roads without mandatory insurance under the Motor Vehicle Act, Chandigarh home-cum-transport secretary, state transport authority, deputy commissioner, deputy superintendent of police (traffic) and the CTU manager have sought more time from the court to file their replies.

In the PIL, the petitioner Pankaj Chandgothia, a lawyer, had appealed for an action against the authorities concerned for registering and allowing CTU buses on the road without insurance.

This matter pf non-insurance of buses came to light when CTU general manager had admitted in a court reply that their buses are not insured. He had taken a stand that CTU buses being government vehicles are exempted from insurance. However, the Motor Vehicles Act does not make any distinction between private and government vehicles in the matter of mandatory insurance, pointed out Chandgothia before the court.

Chandgothia contended that the RLA (registration and licensing authority), Chandigarh, violated the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and its own rules while granting registration certificates to CTU buses without valid insurance cover. Insurance is a mandatory pre-condition which must be fulfilled before any vehicle can be issued a registration number.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Plying-of-buses-without-insurance-authorities-seek-time-to-file-reply/articleshow/18071635.cms