Tamil Nadu seeks redrafted road safety bill

The Tamil Nadu government Tuesday suggested that the Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014 be re-drafted as it "erodes and abrogates" the powers of the state government.

Speaking at the joint meeting of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) and the Transport Development Council (TDC) here, state Transport Minister V.Senthilbalaji said: "The bill erodes and abrogates the powers of the state government and the responsibility cast on the state by the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution."

"The Bill, therefore, requires redrafting which will be examined clause-wise and communicated to the government of India within a month," he added.

He said though the bill has some welcome features like providing medical facilities in the 'golden hour', cashless treatment to victims of road accidents, insurance to be made compulsory and others, it grossly impinges on the rights of the state government to provide transport service to the public.

Senthilbalaji said after the formation of independent statutory bodies like a National Transport Authority and others under the proposed law, the powers of the central and state governments to make rules to control and regulate motor vehicles will be curbed.

"Any welfare and policy decision of the central and state governments cannot be directly implemented and they have to get the approval of these autonomous bodies," he said.

The draft bill is also unclear on how the services of existing officers of the state transport departments would be utilised, he added.

According to Senthilbalaji, the motor vehicle tax accounts for the major share in the state's revenue, but as per the draft bill, all fees/fines/taxes would be collected by the national authority and only a small amount will come to the states.

The draft bill envisages privatisation of licensing procedures and authorities which will be detrimental to the safety and security of the public and their welfare, he contended.

The minister also said that the penal provisions envisaged for traffic offences are grossly contrary to the provisions of the Indian Penal Code and, therefore,"unacceptable".