Viewing the accident seriously, Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice K N Basha, cited reports pointing that one person dies in every 10 days in Chennai while travelling on footboard of overcrowded buses or attempting to board or alighting from moving vehicles.
The students travelling on the footboard of a Tamil Nadu government bus were killed when they fell down from the vehicle after it was hit by a lorry from rear yesterday.
"..It is high time that the Motor Vehicles Rules shall be strictly implemented to secure the safety of the lives of the persons travelling in buses," they said in an order, directing the Advocate General to seek instructions from the government on the safety measures and posted the matter for tomorrow.
"The grievance of the public at large is that because of lack of adequate number of buses, students have no other option but to travel on footboard. It is reported normally each and every bus is overcrowded by more than 50 passengers," they said, adding it was against the Motor Vehicles Rules and Regulations.
When it was pointed out the same was the case in Madurai city too, the judges directed the Additional Advocate General to seek instructions from district administration and Traffic Superintendent of Police and posted the matter before a Division Bench on December 19.