HC direct Transport Dept to formulate policy on doors in buses

The Madras High Court today directed the state Transport Department to formulate a policy within a month and take action to install manual or automatic doors in the buses.
The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, disposing a petition filed by Nethaji Pokkuvarathu Thozhilalarkal Pathukappu Thozhil Sangam (Nethaji Transport Workers Welfare Association), seeking a direction to take steps to provide manual or automatic doors in all the Transport Corporation and private buses said "public transport should be both convenient and safe"
"The present petition raises the issue of safety of passengers. We thus, direct the respondent department to formulate a policy in a period of one month and take such action as is necessary for purposes of safety of passengers", the bench said.

"At the same time the Director General of Police is directed to ensure that the traffic norms are adhered to both by the driver and the citizens, the bench said.
George Williams who represented the association sought a direction to the Transport Secretary not to grant fitness certificates to the buses till the fixation of doors in the bus and also to direct the DGP to issue orders to all police stations to register a case in case of accident arising through foot board travel against the owners of the private buses.
He contended that there have been accidents and loss of life arising from the foot-board journey and the absence of doors.