NEW DELHI: In a significant decision meantto ensure safer public transport, SupremeCourt on Wednesday made it mandatoryfor all public service vehicles (buses, taxisand tourist coaches) to install VehicleLocation Tracking Devices (VLTDs) andalarm buttons.
A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan directed states and UTs to ensurethat such vehicles are not granted a fitness certificate under Section 56 or a permit underSection 66 of Motor Vehicles Act unless installation of these devices is verified andreflected in the Vahan application.
Rule 125H of Central Motor Vehicles Rules mandates installation of VLTDs and emergencybuttons in public vehicles for live-tracking and timely emergency responses, ensuringpassenger safety, particularly for women, children and the elderly.
The court passed the order on mandatory compliance with the Rule after it was told thatonly 1% of vehicles have installed the devices in the last seven years since the rule wasnotified. The court said it is very disturbing that the rules are not being followed.
The bench also asked additional solicitor general Vikramjit Banerjee, representing Centre,to explore possibility of installing these devices at the time of manufacturing of vehicles.
It asked Centre to hold a meeting with automobile manufacturers and make a finaldecision in this regard. It also directed states to ensure compliance with Rule 118 forinstalling speed-limiting devices.
Given low compliance with rule regarding VLTDs, road transport ministry has madeinstallation and functioning of location-tracking devices mandatory for registration andrenewal of registration of public service vehicles from April 1. National permits of trucksare renewed only when installation of VLTD is reflected on Vahan portal.
Meanwhile, 27 states and UTs have set up monitoring centres to track such vehicles, andCentre will soon set up a mechanism for monitoring at national level.