*Man Sentenced to 3 Years Jail for Letting Minor Son Drive; Court Pushes for ‘No Vehicle for Minors’ Policy in Schools*

Srinagar, Dec 6:
In a strong move to reinforce road safety, a Srinagar court has sentenced a man to three years’ simple imprisonment for allowing his minor son to drive, an act termed a serious risk to public safety.

Special Mobile Magistrate (Traffic) Shabir Ahmad Malik convicted Mushtaq Ahmad under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, also imposing a ₹25,000 fine.

Court’s Orders

Vehicle registration cancelled for 12 months

Accused placed on probation, considering no past criminal record

Directed to execute a ₹2 lakh good-conduct bond for two years

If violated, the 3-year sentence will be enforced and the bond amount forfeited

Alarming Road Fatalities (2020–2024)

The court cited India’s rising road deaths, over 8.1 lakh lives lost in four years:

▪ 2020: 1,38,383
▪ 2021: 1,53,972
▪ 2022: 1,68,491
▪ 2023: 1,72,890
▪ 2024: 1,77,177

Calling the figures “deeply alarming,” the court stressed strict enforcement of traffic laws.

Key Observations from the Court

Basic safety measures seat belts, helmets, no phones while driving, must be habits, not formality

Underage driving is a major cause of accidents and traffic chaos

Parents/guardians must never allow minors to drive

Many minors drive around schools and markets, posing danger

Schools must take active responsibility to prevent underage driving

‘No Vehicle for Minors’ Policy Recommended

The court directed the Commissioner Secretary, School Education, to:

Educate students and parents on dangers of underage driving

Implement a strict “No Vehicle for Minors” policy on all school campuses

Strengthen discipline to prevent minors from accessing vehicles

The court also asked the IGP Traffic, J&K to launch a special drive against underage drivers.