The Supreme Court of India has issued a landmark ruling mandating the installation of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices and emergency alarm buttons in all public service vehicles, including buses, taxis, and tourist coaches. This decision, delivered by a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan on Wednesday, aims to significantly improve passenger safety, especially for women, children, and the elderly.
Compliance with Motor Vehicles Act
The court directed all states and union territories to ensure that no public service vehicle receives a fitness certificate under Section 56 or a permit under Section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act unless the installation of these devices is verified and recorded in the Vahan application, the national vehicle registration database.
Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules already mandates the installation of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices and emergency buttons in public vehicles for live tracking and timely emergency response. However, the court noted with concern that only 1% of vehicles had complied with this rule in the seven years since its notification.
Manufacturer-Level Installation Considered
The bench also asked Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, representing the central government, to explore the feasibility of installing these devices at the manufacturing stage. The court instructed the Centre to hold a meeting with automobile manufacturers and make a final decision on this matter. Additionally, states were directed to ensure compliance with Rule 118, which mandates the installation of speed-limiting devices in public vehicles.
In light of the low compliance rate, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has made the installation and functioning of location-tracking devices mandatory for the registration and renewal of registration of public service vehicles effective April 1. For trucks holding national permits, renewal is only granted when the installation of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices is reflected on the Vahan portal.
Monitoring Centers Established
To further enhance oversight, 27 states and union territories have established monitoring centers to track public service vehicles in real time. The central government is also expected to set up a national-level monitoring mechanism soon to ensure uniform compliance and effective emergency response across the country.
