Nagpur: More than 460 schools in Nagpur district that operate buses are facing a Rs 50,000 penalty imposed by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court for failing to submit affidavits certifying that their transport committees held regular meetings and tracked school bus safety.
Low Compliance with Court Order
According to the education department, only 38 schools complied with the order by the extended deadline of June 10 set by the High Court. The next court hearing is scheduled for June 18. Initially, the bench, hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), had given a final window of February 6 to all primary, secondary and higher secondary schools in Nagpur district that run buses to submit details of their transport committee meetings held in the last two years. The bench also sought a list of buses and other vehicles deployed for student commute. Schools that failed to do so were to pay the Rs 50,000 cost.
Court Proceedings
During the March 17 hearing, amicus curiae Firdos Mirza informed the bench that only 38 schools had complied with the order. The court directed the Deputy Director of Education (DDE), Nagpur, a respondent in the matter, to serve fresh notices on remaining schools, along with copies of the January 16 and February 6 orders. On May 29, DDE Nagpur Madhuri Sawarkar issued a notice mentioning the consequences of ignoring the HC's directives. "The court has imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on every defaulting school. The next hearing of the matter is on June 18. All primary, secondary and higher secondary schools in Nagpur district running buses must submit this information through an affidavit to the High Court on or before June 10, 2026," the notice stated.
Widespread Non-Compliance
Even as the extended June 10 deadline passed, the number of schools complying with the HC order remained at 38. With more than 500 schools known to run buses in the city alone, the gap between compliance and non-compliance is still vast.
Background of the PIL
The PIL dates back to 2012, when the court took suo motu cognisance of unregulated school transport in the city after a string of accidents and complaints. Subsequent state government rules require every school running buses to constitute a school bus committee, hold meetings every term, supervise driver and conductor recruitment, ensure fitness certification of each vehicle, and submit minutes to the education department. Schools that do not run their own buses are required to file a clear declaration to that effect so that no school can hide behind ambiguity.
Earlier Court Orders
The January 16 order, passed by Justices Anil S Kilor and Raj D Wakode, had directed the Regional Transport Officer, Nagpur, to furnish a list of all schools running buses or vans owned by them or their contractors. In the February 6 hearing, the court noted that none of the schools had complied and recorded that transport committee meetings, mandated at least once every three months before each semester, were not being held. The bench observed that students' safety in school buses and vans was something that could not be overlooked and that schools ought to be more concerned.
No Compromise on Safety, Say Parents
Swati Khurana: There should be strict checks on drivers' backgrounds, regular vehicle inspections, and CCTV and GPS systems wherever possible, so that we as parents do not have to worry every day about whether our children will reach school safely. Schools must take responsibility if safety norms are violated.
Namrata Thakral: We do not expect luxury from school buses, but we do expect basic safety measures. Drivers should have valid licences, must never be under the influence of alcohol, and should follow speed limits. The buses themselves must be roadworthy. These are not extra demands, but minimum responsibilities. We entrust our children to schools every morning with complete faith.
Anjali Tambat: Compliance with court-mandated norms is the bare minimum for schools. With so many recent accidents involving schoolchildren, there is genuine fear among parents. We send our children by school buses for convenience, but that should not result in such irreversible loss.
Sakshi Paradkar: My brother studies at the same school I attended. Earlier, I never worried much when I accompanied him, but reports of frequent accidents now make me anxious, especially since he travels alone. It is time schools are held accountable. The safety of our loved ones cannot be compromised.
Vivek Jain: Safety cannot be reactive. Schools must conduct regular audits of their transport systems, verify drivers and attendants, and ensure that every bus complies with prescribed norms throughout the year—not just during inspections.
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