Holding that if any indulgence is shown to drivers who commit accidents, killing passengers or others, it will send the wrong signal to other rash drivers, the Madras high court has upheld the dismissal of a state transport corporation driver for rash and negligent driving which resulted in an accident that claimed eight lives and injured 20 persons.
“The labour court/tribunal and courts are duty bound to bear in mind the public interest than extending misplaced sympathy to drivers who commit accident.
Licence granted under the Motor Vehicles Act is only to drive motor vehicles and the same is not a licence to kill people, either passengers or pedestrians, by driving the motor vehicles in a rash and negligent manner,” Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar observed while dismissing R. Rajan’s petition, challenging the order of a labour court, rejecting his application against the order of the transport corporation, dismissing him from service.
The bus, proceeding from Rasipuram to Salem in 2002, dashed against the parapet wall of a well near the road.
As panicky passengers attempted to get down from all exits, the bus fell into the well. He cannot be held responsible for such an accident, the petitioner contended.
The labour court held that it was only due to his rash and negligent driving that the accident occurred.
Considering the magnitude of the accident and the labour court’s findings, “I do not find any reason to interfere with the award passed by the labour court,” the judge added.