An overcrowded school bus in Ranchi. File picture

Ranchi, July 27: Prompted by complaints from guardians that Supreme Court guidelines on school buses were being violated, the Jharkhand Education Tribunal (JET) today directed deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and district transport officers to initiate necessary action.

The directive of JET chairman L.P.N. Shahdeo applies to all schools in the state.

Shahdeo’s action followed complaints from as many as seven guardians this morning. One Rajesh Kumar led six others whose wards are students of DAV Kapil Dev, St Thomas School, Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamali and Delhi Public School (DPS), among others, to the tribunal complaining that school buses were flouting apex court guidelines on overcrowding. While the court said not more than 30 children could travel in a bus, schools often accommodated double the number in the vehicles, the guardians alleged.

Shahdeo in his order mentioned that the Union HRD secretary’s letter dated March 1, 2006 had directed the chief secretaries of all states to comply with the order, which also stipulates that there should be grills on the windows of the buses, a first-aid box and speed monitors.

To ensure schools followed the directives, the JET chairman will inspect school buses on July 29.

“It is true that despite the court’s direction, rules are not being followed, putting the life of small children at risk. It is the deputy commissioners’ responsibility to look into overloading and take strict action,” the JET chairman said in his order.