Truck drivers protest against new Hit And Run law.
Digital News Guru Delhi Desk: Truck drivers across India are protesting against the new provision of hit and run under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. Previously, hit and run cases were filed under various sections of the IPC, with a punishment of two years.
However, the revised Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita has raised the penalty for hit and run offenses for up to ten years.
WHAT DOES THE NEW LAW SAY?
According to the new penal law, any driver who causes the death of a person by rash and negligent driving and flees from the spot without reporting the accident to the authorities could be jailed for up to 10 years and/or be fined.
Section 106 (2) of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita says –
“Whoever causes death of any person by rash and negligent driving of vehicle not amounting to culpable homicide, and escapes without reporting it to a police officer or a magistrate soon after the incident, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description of a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine,” .
WHAT USED TO HAPPEN EARLIER?
The old, British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC) did not have a specific provision for hit-and-run cases. Actions in such cases were taken under Section 304 A of the IPC.
According to that section, a person causing the death of another due to a rash or negligent act could invite a jail term of a maximum of two years or be fined.
“Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both,” the section stated.
All cases of hit-and-run along with other forms of activities that came under the ambit of causing death by a “rash and negligent act” were lodged under Section 304 A of the IPC.
Rajendra Kapoor told ANI that –
All India Motor & Goods Transport Association President, Rajendra Kapoor told ANI, “Our only demand from the government is that the decision should have been taken after having consultations with our stakeholders. There was no discussion with anyone on this, and no one was asked about this.
No protest has been announced by the members of All India Motor & Goods Transport Association. There should be a discussion on this issue. Protest can never lead to a solution. We believe that the government will hold conversations with our members and take a call on this later.”
He added: “The protest has been announced by the members of All India Motor & Goods Transport Association. There should be a discussion on this issue. A misleading situation is created now. People are not completely aware of the new law.
Impact on fuel supply
Chetan Modi, president of the Petrol Dealers Association, Mumbai, told PTI that the fuel supply to petrol pumps has been disrupted since Monday due to the drivers’ agitation. “Petrol pumps started getting dry since yesterday. If we won’t get the supply, most of the pumps will run out of fuel from today,” he said. Mumbai, with around 200 petrol pumps, is feeling the pinch as drivers refuse to let fuel tankers move from the depots despite police security.
Meanwhile, transporters and drivers staged protests across States. Private bus and truck drivers on Monday enforced a ‘chakka jam’ (traffic jam) across the State of Madhya Pradesh in protest against a new hit-and-run law.
The truckers’ association claims that the strike is not called by the association. The truck drivers organised the strike at their level via various social media platforms. As of now, the protesting drivers say the strike will go on till 3rd of January (end of day).
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