New Delhi/Chandigarh: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of allegations regarding the deployment of unsafe and potentially non-compliant air-conditioned sleeper buses under the Punjab government's Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana, the scheme that facilitates pilgrimages for senior citizens and economically disadvantaged persons.
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According to the NHRC release, the complaint alleges unauthorised structural modifications to the buses, including partitions and doors separating the driver's cabin from the passenger compartment, obstruction of emergency exits and windows, and deficiencies in fire detection, suppression and emergency evacuation arrangements. These are allegations raised in the complaint, not findings of the Commission.
The NHRC Bench presided over by Priyank Kanoongo has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab, and the Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
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"A welfare scheme cannot put the lives of its beneficiaries at risk. The safety of elderly pilgrims must not be compromised under any circumstances," the release said.
The Commission has asked the Punjab Chief Secretary to personally ensure an immediate and comprehensive inspection of all buses deployed under the Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana. Any bus found violating mandatory safety requirements must be withdrawn from service until the deficiencies are rectified and compliance is verified by the competent authority.
Both authorities have been given seven days to submit detailed Action Taken Reports. The Punjab Chief Secretary's report must specify the number of buses deployed under the scheme, inspections undertaken, deficiencies identified, corrective measures initiated, non-compliant vehicles withdrawn, and accountability fixed upon officials and operators. The Commission said mere forwarding of departmental replies or general assurances of compliance will not suffice.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been directed to examine compliance with applicable bus-body design standards, Automotive Industry Standards and CIRT guidelines, review enforcement measures taken in earlier proceedings, and report concrete steps to prevent the continued operation of unsafe sleeper buses and the recurrence of fatal accidents.
The NHRC said it had earlier taken cognisance of similar cases involving fatal bus accidents and serious passenger-safety violations, particularly structural designs that isolate the driver's cabin from the passenger compartment, potentially obstructing fire detection, communication and emergency evacuation. In those proceedings it had sought responses from the Road Transport Ministry, the Director of the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), Pune, and concerned state governments, including Punjab.