Bombay high court: Take a call on speed governors

The Bombay high court has given the state transport commissioner three months to make a decision on installing speed governors in public transport vehicles.

A division bench of chief justices Mohit Shah and DG Karnik was hearing a petition filed by Suraksha Foundation seeking implementation of provisions of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules that make the use of speed governors mandatory in public transport vehicles.

Additional government pleader Rajesh Behere submitted that the draft notification for making speed governors mandatory was issued in July, 2010, at which time the transport commissioner had invited objections and suggestions. Back then, taxi unions and some other associations had objected to the speed governors. “The other issue to consider is implementation of the rules with regard to vehicles from other states which come into Maharashtra and for whom speed governors are not mandatory,” said Behere.

The Foundation’s advocate, Sanjeev Kadam countered the argument made by the government pleader and said that use of speed governors is a central rule and can therefore be made applicable all over the country. He said speed governors would restrict excessive speeding on roads. “Statistics show that 32% of all unnatural accidents occur on roads. Maharashtra has the notorious distinction of topping the list of road fatalities in the country”

The matter has been adjourned to September 2011.