Truck Drivers End Protest After Centre's Assurance on Consultation Before New Law Implementation

Truck drivers and several transport associations, which launched a protest in various parts of the country, called off their agitation on Tuesday after Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla assured them that their views would be considered before the implementation of a new law regarding hit-and-run cases.

The Home Secretary met representatives of the All India Motor Transport Congress which announced a strike on Monday against jail and fine under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for hit-and-run cases.

“We had a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress representatives, govt want to say that the new rule has not been implemented yet, we all want to say that before implementing Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 106/2, we will have a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress representatives and then only we will take a decision,” Bhalla said.

In a statement, the truck drivers’ Association stated they had convened and discussed the Indian Judicial Code matter. Currently, they have no outstanding issues as all concerns have been resolved. The association further added, “No new laws have been implemented as of now. The state has assured that any forthcoming law will be enforced only after consulting with them (Indian Transport Congress).”

Amrit Lal Madan, President of All India Motor Transport Congress, said, “You are not just our drivers you are our soldiers…We do not want you to face any inconvenience…Union Home Minister Amit Shah has kept the ten years of punishment & fine that was imposed, on hold. Until the next meeting of the All India Motor Transport Congress is held no laws will be imposed.”

Bal Malkit Singh, Chairman of the core committee of All India Motor Transport Congress, appealed to drivers to go back to their vehicles and start driving without any fears.

“We have conveyed your (the truckers) concerns to the government. The law has not been put into force yet and I assure you that we will not let this law come into force. We appeal to you to go back to your vehicles and start driving without any fears,” said Bal Malkit Singh.

What does the new law for hit-and-run cases deal with?

In the latest move by the Centre, the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), replaced the Indian Penal Code. Under this law, drivers can face punishment of up to 10 years or a fine of Rs 7 lakh, if they cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing any officials. Previously, under the ambit of the IPC, the punishment in such cases was two years.

The law thereby states, “The duration of sentences in hit-and-run cases has been increased to 10 years because of the observations made by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has stated in multiple cases that strict action should be taken against those drivers who recklessly drive vehicles, cause accidents resulting in someone’s death, and then flee the scene.”

In the Winter Session of Parliament, the Union Government passed the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023.

Why are Drivers and Transport Associations Protesting?

According to the private transport operators, the law has a possibility of leading to unjust punishments. They claim that the drivers can be subjected to mob violence when they attempt to transport the injured to hospitals and demand the repeal of the law.

Speaking on the protest against the new law on hit-and-run cases, the President of All India Motor & Goods Transport Association, 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. There should have been prior meetings and consultations.”

Latest Updates on Protests

• After meeting transport associations, the Home Secretary said, “We had a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress representatives, govt want to say that the new rule has not been implemented yet, we all want to say that before implementing Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 106/2, we will have a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress representatives and then only we will take a decision.”
• Amrit Lal Madan, President of All India Motor Transport Congress, said, “You are not just our drivers you are our soldiers…We do not want you to face any inconvenience…Union Home Minister Amit Shah has kept the ten years of punishment & fine that was imposed, on hold. Until the next meeting of the All India Motor Transport Congress is held no laws will be imposed.”
• Meanwhile, Mumbai Police urged people not to throng petrol/diesel/CNG pumps and indulge in panic buying. “Don’t believe in rumours. There is enough stock available in Mumbai and we are providing adequate security to the tankers supplying petroleum products in Mumbai,” the police said.
• Transport associations and drivers have been staging protests across states.
• In Madhya Pradesh, private bus and truck drivers enforced a ‘chakka jam’ (traffic jam) on Monday at the Pithampur Highway in Dhar by putting obstacles on the road, in protest against the new hit-and-run law.
• Members of an organisation representing the drivers also staged a protest on the streets of Bhopal at the Board Office intersection.
• General VK Singh (Retd), MoS Road Transport & Highways, while commenting on truck drivers’ protest against the new law on hit-and-run cases said, “Passengers should not face problems. The new law is to help the passengers. Earlier drivers used to run away, now a new law has been made to alert the drivers.”
• A similar protest also emerged in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur, where bus drivers staged a demonstration against the new law.
• On Tuesday, petrol pumps in Nagpur also witnessed long queues due to the ongoing protests.
• In certain parts of Rajasthan, truckers also held protests against the Centre’s latest move on hit-and-run cases on Monday, due to which movement of trucks and private bus operators were affected.
• As a result of the strike, Mumbai is facing an acute shortage of fuel as trucks of private distributors are not being allowed to exit from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in Wadala’s Mahul on Tuesday.
• The restaurants in Mumbai have reportedly not received gas cylinders. More than 50 trucks of commercial gas cylinders of private distributors are said to be stuck at BPCL plant. Visuals also showed bikers queuing up at Sakinaka and Mira Road petrol pumps.
• Talking about the congestion in roads due to the protests, Rajasthan State Roadways Transport Corporation Spokesperson Ashutosh Awana said, “There were jams on Dholpur-Karauli route, Udaipur-Nathdwara route, Sawai Madhopur-Kota Lalsot route, Bhilwara-Ajmer route and Anupgarh-Ganganagar due to the protest. Operation of roadways buses was affected but it resumed after police intervention.”
• In a latest development, a senior government functionary said on Tuesday that under the stringent provision of the recently enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a driver who accidentally hits a person and subsequently informs police or takes the victim to the nearest hospital will not be prosecuted.
• Talking about the situation on Monday, Gyansingh Yadav, a cab driver who was among the protestors told ANI, “The likes of myself, who drive cabs for a living, could still be home at night. But the truck drivers often don’t get to meet their loved ones for 15 days or more. We are not against any government or law but I feel some amendments should be made, especially about the penal provisions against drivers. The new law attracts a 10-year prison term for errant drivers. I feel it should be reduced to 1-2 years.”

(with inputs from agencies)