Implementing MV Act amended rules: Telangana HC issues notice to Centre, state govt

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has issued notices to the central and state governments in a plea seeking to implement amended rules of the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019.

A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao issued notices to the Secretary, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Government of India, New Delhi; Principal Secretary to the Government Home Department; and Transport Commissioner, Government of Telangana.

The court directed the respondents to furnish their reply within four weeks in the pleas seeking implementation of the amended rules of the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019. The amended rules impose strict action against all the erring drivers who drive vehicles under the influence of alcohol and drugs, resulting in the death of common people on the roads.

As per the amended rules of the M.V. Act, 2019, erring drivers can be tried under section 304 ii of IPC for culpable homicide not amounting to murder for causing death by driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and not under section 304 A of IPC.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Alok Aradhe said that the court has taken cognizance and issued notices.

The petitioner in the PIL petition sought a direction to the state government to establish an adequate number of exclusive courts in Hyderabad city covering jurisdictions of the Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda Commissionerates and try the offenders under the amended M.V. Act, which will help in bringing down accidents.

Further, the petitioner sought a direction to the state government to appoint a committee to study the issues related to the implementation of all the relevant laws/rules to curb the menace of drunken driving in the city.

The court was adjudicating the public interest litigation filed by Ramanjeet Singh, an IT Professional, and a resident of Gowliguda, Hyderabad.