The Bombay High Court today granted four weeks time to the Union Government to respond to a petition seeking amendments in law to enhance punishment for offenders in drunk driving cases and more compensation to the accident victims.
A division bench of Abhay Oka and A S Chandurkar were hearing a public interest litigation filed by journalist Nikhil Wagle, seeking compensation from Salman Khan for the victims of the 2002 hit-and-run case involving the superstar.
The bench asked Anil Singh, Additional Solicitor General, to seek instructions from the Union Government and file a response to the PIL after a month.
Also Read
The bench had earlier asked the Union Government to consider amending section 279 of Indian Penal Code (rash and negligent driving) and enhance the existing punishment (two years' jail term) for drunk driving.
The Court also suggested that IPC sections 304 A (culpable homicide not amounting to murder which attracts upto 10 years punishment) and 279 should be amended to include a specific offence of drunk driving.
The Central government's lawyer said it was considering amendment of section 304 A and it had sought views of the state government on section 279.
An affidavit filed by Charushila Tambekar, Joint Secretary, Home department, Government of Maharashtra, said records of this PIL had been destroyed in a fire that broke out in Mantralaya on June 21, 2012 and hence there was a delay in filing a reply.
The affidavit further said that the State had proposed amendments in law and had sent the bill for President's assent to the Centre but the same was not supported by the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways.
The State Government stated that police had registered 2,95,967 drunk driving cases from 2006 to 2014, while collecting Rs 45.55 crore as fine from the offenders. Besides, 46,998 driving licences had been suspended from 2007 to 2014.
