A new provision of stringent punishment in hit-and-run cases brought by the government under the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, has triggered nation-wide protests by truckers, who see the law as too harsh on drivers.
A change in the colonial-era criminal laws means increase in jail term to drivers in hit-and-run cases for up to 10 years for fleeing and not reporting a fatal accident. Earlier, the accused could be jailed only for up to two years under Section 304A of the IPC (causing death by negligence).
Private bus operators also joined in the strike in various parts of the country, while those running autos too have opened a new front against the new law. The truckers allege the new law will discourage drivers from their duty and also prevent new ones to take up the job.
The transporters say no one causes accidents intentionally and the drivers fear of being thrashed by a mob if they try to take the injured to hospital, demanding that the “black law” be repealed.
They also expressed fear that if an accident happens due to the fog, the driver will be punished for 10 years without any fault of his.
Demonstrations erupted in various places where bus drivers too joined the truckers in their protest against the new law. Truck and tanker drivers staged protests in parts of Madhya Pradesh too. Some truckers had blocked NH-2 in West Bengal’s Hooghly district to protest the new law.
Drivers fear being roughed up by locals after accidents and therefore, they try to flee such situations without reporting them to the authorities. Lengthy procedures involving the police are another reason that discourage them to take the legal route.
The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023 replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code last year in an attempt to simplify and Indianise the criminal laws.
The truckers’ association, however, claimed that the strike was not called by the association. The truck drivers organised the strike at their level via various social media platforms. As of now, the protesting drivers say the strike will go on till January 3.
Meanwhile, due to the supply chain disruption caused by the trucks going off roads, there were reports of shortage of petrol and diesel in fuel stations that led to panic buying till late on Monday. Price of essentials is set to go up if the truckers are not back on the roads at the earliest.
In many states schools were closed fearing shortage of fuel and normal life was disrupted due to truncated public transport facilities.
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