Truck Driver Protest , New Law and Fuel crises
The government has introduced a new hit-and-run law under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, which replaced the British old colonial-era Indian Penal Code. As per the new law of Hit and Run case, the driver will face a huge consequence if he drives negligently, causes an accident and runs away without informing the Police or any officials, in such case punishment for an accident caused by a driver will be jail of 10 years and a fine of rupees 7 lakh.
After the announcement of the new law huge agitation has marked in pan India, transportation has been shut down, due to protests, and fuel stations are filled with crowds of vehicles. in several areas, fuel stations are either dry or running out of fuel, it all happens because truck drivers and tanker drivers all are on strike due to a new law implementation which poses a threat and punishment of 10 years and 7 lakhs drivers for driving in rush, causing the accident.
New law of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita
Under the new law of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, hit-and-run cases can attract up to 10 years in jail and a fine of ₹ 7 lakh. under this law government has formulated new version of hit and run law, previously it was Indian Penal Code which government says a colonial era rule, it is need to reform so they have given new name called Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita , according to new rule for Hit-and Run case if a driver is running vehicle negligently , causing an accident , not informing to police or awaring the accident caused by him to any officials and run away from the site he will face punishment of 10 years in jail and Rs 7 lakh as fine .
Hit-and-run accidents and death due to rash driving is covered under the law for causing death by negligence. In the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The law, which has received the President’s assent after it cleared Parliament, has two clauses under Section 104. “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 seven years, and shall also be liable to fine,” says the first clause.
“Whoever causes death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide and escapes from the scene of incident or fails to report the incident to a Police officer or 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,” says the second.
What was Provision covered in IPC
Currently, hit-and-run accidents are covered by IPC’s Section 304A. “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,” .
How Truck Driver Protest affect Fuel supply
Drivers including trucks and Tankers all are protesting so More than lakhs drivers supplying fuel through tankers or who are driving Tankers are part of this protest has stopped working .the situation mount the command over fuel crises, many fuel station already hints how they are running dry or in coming days they will face huge fuel crises without supply , as the protest hit the supply of fuels, this will embark huge crises in supply of food , vegetables and daily utilities , if situation not getting in order it will affect supply chain huge.
What are Protesters saying?
Protesters says “People like we who drive cabs for a living still go home at night. But truck drivers often don’t 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 with regard to the penal provisions against drivers. The new law attracts a 10-year prison term for rash driving drivers. I feel it should be reduced to 1-2 years,”
bus drivers are saying, “We are poor people. Penal action should be taken against the owners of our vehicles. This law is unfair on us. We will continue to be on strike till our demands are met.
private transport operators have claimed that the law discourages drivers and may lead to unjust punishments. They also claim that the drivers could be subject to mob violence when they attempt to transport the injured to hospitals and demand the repeal of the law
All India Motor & Goods Transport Association President, told “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.”
In Social Media platform X Drivers Protest also trending
अब देख लो किसकी गलती है और किसको सजा मिलेगी@hanumanbeniwal @imbijarnia @Minu__99 #TruckDriversProtest#हिट_एण्ड_रन_कानून #Istandwithtruckdriver pic.twitter.com/X0EUhH5jLz
— Vishan Delu (@DeluVishan) January 1, 2024