The Maharashtra Government has informed the Bombay High Court that a new set of rules have been framed under the Motor Vehicles Act which allow four-wheelers, including Maruti vans, to ferry children to schools.

Based on this statement, the court allowed Vidyarthi Vahatuk Sanghatana on April 25 to withdraw its petition challenging the decision of Regional Transport Office in nearby Thane of not permitting Maruti vans to ferry children to schools.

The rules have published through a notification on March 22, the court was informed.

The rules also provide for the formation of a school bus safety committee in each district to give suggestions about the safety of children and a transport committee in every school to identify bus stops and approve transportation fees.

Earlier, Mr Justice P.B. Majmudar and A.A. Sayed had opined that the decision of Thane RTO (of not allowing Maruti vans to drop children to school) was prima facie not justified.

The petitioner contended even though in Mumbai and other cities of Maharashtra, children were allowed to go school by taking the services of Maruti van, it was only Thane RTO which took exception and not allowed such vehicles to ply.

The judges noted on last occasion, “prima facie, in our view, the decision taken by Thane RTO is not justified especially when it is an admitted position that in Mumbai and other cities of the state as well as in the rest of the country, there is no restriction by which the school children are allowed to avail the services by Maruti van”.

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