Fine increased to Rs 1000, Police to impound vehicle for 3 violation

New Delhi, Feb 1 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today said the permit of a passneger bus would be cancelled by the authorities if the vehicle was involved in three traffic violations in the capital.

A division bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and H R Malhotra gave the stamp of approval to the 28-point suggestion submitted by Additional Solicitor General(ASG) Gopal Subramaniam, who headed the committee studying the traffic in the capital.

Mr Subramanium, who was asked by the court to convene a meeting of the nodal officers of Delhi Transport Corporation(DTC), State Transport Authority, Delhi Traffic Police, studied the problems of the violent traffic, which claimed 2019 lives in accidents in 2005.

The Court approved the suggestions of the committee to enhance the fine amount to Rs 1000 from Rs 100 for any traffic rule violation including lane jumping, red light signal jumping and rogue driving.

The cancellation of permit would encourage the owners to invest in the proper training of the drivers, said the report submitted to the court.

Adjourning the matter for final direction on February 6, the court said the authorites should not issue permits to run public transport unless the vehicle confirmed to the new specification of international standards.

Mr Subramanium said the DTC had floated tenders for acquiring about 600 buses with low frame and low steering wheel to have a complete visibility of the road.

The bench said the authorities should ansure lane driving of the vehicles which otherwise were claiming innocent lives.

The Court directed the authorities not to purchase any bus for public transport till the petition was disposed of.

Mr Subramaniam suggested public transport use low frame and low steering buses to have a closure look at the road.

The Court expressed its concern saying that 65 per cent of the crimes--rape and murder-- were committed in vehicles with finted glasses.

The Delhi Transport Act does not allow vehicles to have black films and the Delhi Traffic Police was not doing anything to curb the menace, the court observed.

Despite a Supreme Court order, vehicle owners were using them on their vehicles, said the bench.

UNI