Man gets 3 years jail for allowing minor son to drive

Srinagar, Dec 6: Observing it as a violation that posed a serious threat to public safety, a court here Saturday sentenced a man to three years’ imprisonment for allowing his minor son to drive a vehicle.

The Court also called for framing a policy like “No Vehicle for Minors" in educational institutions and urged for special drives against the violators by traffic police.

Special Mobile Magistrate Srinagar Shabir Ahmad Malik sentenced the accused Mushtaq Ahmad to three years simple imprisonment and imposed Rs 25,000 as fine on him after convicting him for the commission of offence under Section 199A of Motor Vehicles Act 1988.

The court also ordered for cancelling the registration of the particular vehicle for a period of twelve months.However, the court granted probation to the violator, saying the offence does not involve moral turpitude and the violator has no prior convictions.

Moreover, the Court directed the convict to execute a bond of Rs 2 lakh for maintaining peace and good behaviour for a period of two years. It further ordered that if the convict violated any condition of the bond during this period, he would undergo the sentence proposed and the bond amount of Rs 2 lakh would stand forfeited to the government.

In its judgment the court placed on record the number of deaths that happened in the last five years (2020 to 2024) due to road accidents in India.

“Approximately 810,913 precious lives are lost due to negligent driving/ bypassing traffic rules in last 5 years 1,38,383 died in 2020; 1,53,972 in 2021; 1,68,491 in 2022; 1,72,890 in 2023 and 1,77,177 in 2024," the court said.

The court observed that these numbers are alarming and it was high time that people take traffic laws very seriously.

While the court underscored that we as a society must realise that these lives can be saved if traffic rules are followed, it said: “Simple measures — such as wearing a seat belt, a helmet or proper headgear, and keeping mobile phones aside while driving — are not mere formalities but essential habits that protect and save lives”.

The court observed that “this sense of responsibility should come from within us, and not only when a police officer is around to remind us.”

Underage driving is a major contributor to traffic accidents and congestion, posing serious risks to other motorists and pedestrians, the court said.

The Court held that “it is important to realise that Parents, guardians or owners of vehicles are responsible for providing vehicles to their minor children. “It is observed many times these minors are driving vehicles, riding bikes in and around, schools or crowded places, resulting in accidents and loss of lives”.

The court observed that “it is the first and foremost duty of parents not to provide their minor children any vehicle unless they attain majority and have license to drive the vehicle.”

While the court noted that it is the duty of principals and teachers not to allow the minor students to drive the vehicles and impart education regarding these issues, it said: “By allowing minors to drive we are only producing violators and victims and not responsible citizens”.

The court directed that a copy of the judgment it passed be sent to J&K’s Commissioner Secretary School Education with a request to circulate the same in all government and private schools and direct them to educate the students as well as their parents or guardians regarding these issues.

“I would also request the Commissioner Secretary School Education to issue directives to all the schools and frame some policy like "No Vehicle policy for Minors" in education institutes. So as to contribute to this noble cause that may save many lives,” the Special Mobile Magistrate said. The Court also directed IGP Traffic J&K to conduct a special drive against the minors as violators.