One-hundred-thirty-four buses ferrying schoolchildren were found to be flouting safety norms between June 25 and July 9, the transport department informed the Bombay High Court on Tuesday.
The action was part of a special drive carried out by the department to ensure safety of students. In Mumbai, 65 vehicles were booked for violating rules.
The government submitted in the HC that action was taken against 995 school buses and 869 other vehicles transporting children to and from schools across the state. Five vehicles were detained as they posed risk to the lives of children.
A division bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice Girish Kulkarni asked the department to continue the drive and submit a fresh report on the next hearing after three weeks. The court also asked the authorities to identify the schools to which the buses were attached for better clarity.
The direction was given during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by non-profit PTA United, seeking implementation of motor vehicle rules to ensure safety of children during travel to and from the school.
The government also informed the court that as a pilot project in the district of Ratnagiri, a school bus safety committee has been set up, which will interact with schools to make sure that only those contractors recognised by the schools ply children. Schools must face action for flouting the rules, the HC told the authorities.
The court once again urged the government to sensitise, schools and parents about the issue.
There are 1,08,000 schools across Maharashtra, while 25,000 buses are used for ferrying children, the court was informed.
