#### School Vehicle Safety Guidelines Reach Court in Kota

Kota, July –The issue of strict enforcement of safety guidelines in school vehicles has now reached the Lok Adalat in Kota. A petition demanding compliance with Supreme Court-mandated norms for school transport has been filed by advocate Lokesh Kumar Saini, crime reporter Jagdish Arvind, independent journalist Dharmabandhu Arya, and Jagdish Prasad Nayak.

Acting on the petition, the Lok Adalat has issued notices to the District Collector, District Education Officer (Primary), Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Kota, and the DSP of Traffic, seeking a formal response. The hearing has been scheduled for August 8, 2025.

The petition highlights the lack of fitness and safety compliance among school vans and autos operating in the city. The petitioners claim that over 10,000 school vehicles are running without adhering to any regulations, lacking essential documents like fitness certificates, insurance, and valid permits.

They emphasized that vehicles used for transporting children must have:

Fitness certificate ensuring technical soundness

Valid "Bal Vahini" permit

Insurance and PUC certificate, renewed on time

No overloading of children, which is a violation of safety norms

First-aid kits, fire extinguishers, and emergency tools

Clear “On School Duty” signage

Drivers with valid licenses and police verification

Installation of CCTV and GPS tracking systems

The petitioners further pointed out that most school vehicles in Kota do not comply with Supreme Court guidelines. After school hours, small children are often crammed into autos without any safety measures and dropped off home in highly unsafe conditions.

The case is expected to set a precedent and could push authorities to take stringent action to enforce road safety norms for school children in Kota.