Truck drivers' stir continued to the second day across Maharashtra on Tuesday as they protested stringent provisions for hit-and-run cases under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
According to some reports, as many as 70 per cent of the estimated 1.20 lakh trucks in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region didn't ply on Monday. There have been similar protests in several other parts of Maharashtra and elsewhere.
The truckers are angry over some of the provisions under the BNS, which replaced the colonial era Indian Penal Code. Under the new law, drivers who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run without informing police or other administrative officials can be punished for up to 10 years and fined Rs 7 lakh.
The All India Motor Transport Congress has expressed "deep concerns" over these provisions. While there was no official strike call, a spontaneous and widespread protest had emerged across highways, resulting in road blockages and drivers refusing to ply vehicles, it said.
Bal Malkit Singh, chairman - core committee, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), said they are committed to "ensuring the safety and well-being of drivers while seeking a balanced approach to legislative measures."
"We call upon the government to open channels for dialogue and work towards a solution that addresses the concerns of all stakeholders," said Singh.
The AIMTC had sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah last week, raising their concerns on these provisions.
"While the intent behind introducing stringent measures to address hit-and-run incidents may be benign, there are significant lacunaes in the proposed law that require urgent reconsideration. The transport sector and the truck drivers, a vital contributor to the nation's economy are deeply apprehensive about the potential ramifications of this legislation," the letter signed by AIMTC President Amritlal Madan, AIMTC Chairman G.R. Shanmugappa and Singh said.
The proposed law has been introduced without any consultation with stakeholders, particularly representatives from the transport sector, they said. "This oversight is critical, as the lack of input from those directly affected may result in unintended consequences during the implementation," they added.
Truckers say clarity is required on determining culpability, especially in situations where a vehicle is struck from behind or the fault lies with the driver of the smaller vehicle. "A fair investigation into the causes of accidents, rather than automatic blame on heavy vehicles is crucial for justice," said AIMTC.
