HC direction to authorities to take stringent action

The Madras High Court today observed that mere collection of 'compounding fee' for overloading school children in autorickshaws is not sufficient but directed the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, to adopt stringent measures such as suspension and cancellation of permits of offenders who overload their vehicles.
"The mere fact that huge amount of compounding fee having been collected itself would show that the menace of overloading and accommodating more persons than what is required leading to accidents still continue," the First Bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Satish K. Agnihotri and Justice M.M. Sundresh, said.
Citing the statistics given in the counter affidavit filed by the Commissioner of Police, the bench said so far, 10550 cases have been booked for overloading in autorickshaws and 1310 cases for allowing two persons in the driver's seat.

"Therefore, we are of the view that mere imposition of fine and the consequential collection alone would not be sufficient. We direct the authorities to adopt stringent measures rather than collecting compound fees," the bench, in its order, said.
The bench was closing a contempt petition filed by social activist 'Traffic' Ramaswamy seeking punishment for the authorities for not implementing the court order of January 18 last year in which certain guidelines were framed for transporting school children.
In his counter affidavit, the Commissioner submitted that so far an amount of Rs.91,35,110 has been collected as fine and periodical checks made. The traffic offences pertaining to share autos have come down, the Commissioner said in his counter.

The counter said so far 40 permits have been suspended and 13 permits cancelled. The bench, which felt mere collection of fine amount is not sufficient, directed the authorities to take stringent action against the offenders.