In less than a month the country will have a new, stringent motor vehicles legislation that envisages truly deterrent penalty and imprisonment for violators of road rules, including drunk drivers, the Centre told the Madras HC on Tuesday .
A new Motor Vehicles Act, to replace of the existing law dating back to 1988, is contemplated, the Centre said, adding that a draft of Road Transport Safety Bill, 2014 has been uploaded for consultation with stake-holders.The new rule enhances penalty for drunken driving and other offences, said assistant solicitor general of India S Srinivasan, when a suo motu PIL came up before the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam.
As per the new rules, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs would entail `15,000 fine, prison for one year or both. It will also invite suspension of licence for six months from the date of conviction. Second conviction would result in permanent cancellation of the licence and imprisonment for up to two years. The existing rules provide for just `2,000 fine andor six months' prison for the first offence, and `3,000 andor two years' prison if the offence is committed within three years of the previous offence.
After the Centre said it expected the consultative task and passage of the Bill to be over in a month, the judges adjourned the matter to September 10 for further hearing, with a direction that a status report be placed before the court at least three days before the next date of hearing.
B Ram Kumar and B Arun Kumar died in a road accident involving an MTC bus on LB Road in Adyar in 2011. A motor accidents claims tribunal awarded `11 lakh to one victim, and reduced 20% for other victim due to “contrib utory negligence“, saying he was riding the bike and was drunk. Their family members filed appeals seeking higher compensation.
Justice N Kirubakaran, who heard the case, framed 16 questions for the state and Union governments to reply , and said many families were shattered because of drinking. The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan took over the case and split it into two. While the issue of drunken driving would be treated as a PIL, the compensation portion could be decided as per the Motor Vehicles Act by the portfolio court, it said.
