Commercial driver must know how to control vehicle: Court

Upholding the sentence of a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus driver in a rash driving case, a court here Wednesday said drivers of commercial vehicles were duty bound to control what they drive.

"A person driving a vehicle, especially a commercial vehicle, is under duty to be in position to control the vehicle," District and Sessions Judge Ina Malhotra said.

The judge's remarks came while upholding the sentence awarded by a magisterial court to DTC bus driver Sadhan Kumar in a rash driving case.

According to the prosecution, Kumar, while driving a DTC bus Aug 13, 1998, caused an accident near Deshbandhu College in Krishna Market area in south Delhi.

As per prosecution, Kumar was driving the bus towards Deshbandhu College at a high speed. He suddenly took a left turn, hitting a pedestrian woman. The woman was crushed under the rear wheel and died of her injuries.

Kumar challenged the magisterial court order, saying the testimony of the witness was highly doubtful.

The sessions court rejected his submission and said there was nothing to doubt the presence of the witness as he categorically stated that the vehicle was driven in a rash and negligent manner.

The magisterial court convicted him for rash driving and causing death due to negligence, and sentenced him to simple imprisonment for three months with a fine of Rs.5,000 for each offence.