Ban on ferrying more than five schoolchildren in auto-rickshaws in Amritsar district

Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney has issued an order under Section 163 if the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, as per which no auto-rickshaw driver in Amritsar district would be allowed to ferry schoolchildren exceeding the vehicle capacity to school. Principals/Headmasters of all schools would ensure that they made parents aware of this rule, the order states.

The order further states: “It has come to notice of the administration that in Amritsar district, the number of children ferried to schools in auto-rickshaws exceed the vehicle seating capacity, which apart from creating traffic problems, also poses a risk of accidents. This ban order will remain in effect till April 6, 2025.”

The order comes in line with the Safe School Vahan guidelines of the Supreme Court and one seat, one child rule that explicitly implies on the safety of schoolchildren. Despite multiple orders passed in the past, a large number of auto-rickshaws and vans openly flout the safety norms by transporting more children than the seating capacity of the vehicle.

According to the norms, auto-rickshaws carrying schools students can only ferry five kids up to age of 14 years. These vehicles must be approved by the Transport Commissioner from time to time. In case of school buses, one seat, one child policy has to be adopted. But often auto-rickshaws ferry 12 to 14 children, along with their bags, to schools. The recent orders state that those not complying with the norms would invite punitive action.