Juvenile was driving vehicle, owner booked: Police

Srinagar, Dec 16: The investigation into the Tengpora accident has revealed that Mahindra Thar was being driven by a juvenile and the owner of the vehicle has been booked under 199 (A) Motor Vehicle Act.

According to police officials investigating the case, the juvenile driver, whose identity has been withheld due to legal reasons, has already given a statement to the authorities. The owner of the vehicle has been booked under Section 199 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which holds vehicle owners accountable for allowing unlicensed individuals to drive.

Two teenaged boys died and as many were injured when their car rammed into a stationary truck before hitting a divider at Tengpora on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway on last month.

The accident occurred at Tengpora on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway, when the teenagers driving an SUV rammed into a stationary tipper truck before hitting the divider. The CCTV footage of the incident was circulated widely on social media.

“Till now the investigations have revealed that vehicle was being driven by juvenile,” a police official told Greater Kashmir. “Juvenile was brought to police station and owner of the vehicle has been booked under MV act.”

Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with offenses committed by juveniles. It says that if a juvenile commits a motor vehicle offense, the guardian or owner of the vehicle is considered guilty of the offense. the guardian or owner can be imprisoned for up to three years and fined up to `25,000. The provisions of this section do not apply if the juvenile had a learner's license or driving license and was operating a licensed vehicle.

The court presumes that the juvenile used the vehicle with the consent of the guardian or owner.

The guardian or owner can avoid punishment if they prove that the offense was committed without their knowledge or that they took all due diligence to prevent it.

Sources said that investigations into the case is still going on. “Different angles are being seen while investigations are being carried.”

“We are taking this case very seriously. The statement of the juvenile has been recorded, and further investigations are underway. The owner of the vehicle will face the full force of the law for their negligence,” the officer added.

This incident has sparked widespread outrage across Kashmir with many calling for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and stronger penalties for those who violate them. Social activists and community leaders have emphasised the need for greater parental supervision and awareness campaigns to curb the trend of underage driving.