The Nationwide truck driver’s protests came to an end yesterday after a few members of the All India Transport Congress(AITC) met Union Home Secretary Ajay Balla at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi to discuss the concerns that led to protests.
The truck drivers started the strike on 1st January 2024. against the “New Hit And Run Law” that the center approved recently in parliament sessions.
We Have Answered All The Questions In This Article Related To This Protest Such As Why The Protest Happened? also What Made Them Stop The Protest.
Article Highlights:
What Is The New Hit And Run Law – Everything You Need To Know:
The Driver Protest:
The truck drivers started protesting on Monday and stated the protest would continue for 3 days in this regard few members of AITC met the Union secretary in Delhi on Tuesday before meeting the home minister to discuss their concerns regarding the new laws introduced in parliament winter sessions.
The New Hit And Run Law:
According to the new proposal, the Indian Penal Code Act is replaced by Bharathiya Nyaya Sanhita where “Hit and Run” cases become strict. Under this new law, the hit-and-run cases will be sentenced to a jail period of 10 years or a fine of up to 7 lakhs for serious accidents caused due to negligent driving. This law also states that the one who caused the accidents should inform the police with immediate effect so that punishment can be reduced.
The Impact Of Protest:
The items that are transported through roadways got delayed as the protests were caused by drivers of trucks, buses, and tankers. Due to this, transportation of market items got delayed.
The petroleum products need to be filled at stations regularly to meet demand but due to these protests, the delay in filling stations led to unavailability of petroleum products that caused long queues at petroleum stations.
In some places petroleum products are set for the limit to meet the demand, for two-wheelers it was a max of RS. 200 and for 4 wheelers it was a max of Rs. 400 . Not only market items and petroleum products everything that is transported through roadways got affected by the delay in reaching the destination.
The New Laws Effect:
Hit and run cases are not always serious sometimes a minor accident can take place and rarely a major accident occurs, in both cases the fear of imprisonment leads to the escaping of the driver without informing the police or an ambulance.
But now as per new law whatever the accident the one who caused the accident should inform the police which can reduce the punishment but if not then it leads to direct 10 years of prison or up to 7 lakh fine. Even though the accident is caused unintentionally the one who caused it will be sentenced to jail.
This situation might lead to financial uncertainties for families who caused the accident and make it difficult to lead a normal life for the family members. This new law has a huge impact on the drivers along with family members being affected the most.
Is It Possible To Change The New Hit And Run Law?:
The government has introduced this new law by forming a committee after the opposition in parliament stated that the previously introduced new laws are very similar to old laws introduced by Britishers. Even after the new laws are introduced many law experts stated there are many flaws and loopholes but somehow the new laws are approved.
“It is difficult to eliminate the approved laws but a few changes can be made” either by adding or removing supportive features of this law. If the changes are approved then we have to wait and see what the center is going to bring.
The Main Problem In New Law:
If this new law is implemented then the responsibility of the driver increases and accidents can be avoided but the driver’s family will be the most affected in case of any accident caused by the driver. In case of an accident, either a 10yr jail or 7lkh fine will be imposed which will become a huge burden on middle-class and lower-middle-class families. So the government should be very cautious about implementing this new law.
The Negotiation Between Government And Transport Union:
The protest initially started for 3 days, but stopping the services of roadways caused a huge impact so the negotiations were made very quickly regarding the concerns of the transport union. The truck drivers withdrew from the protests on the evening of 2nd January 2024. after a long conversation between Home Minister Amit Shah and the Transport Union by mutual understanding. The home minister said that any kind of action regarding the hit-and-run case would be taken only by informing the transport body. The transport body said that the new law of hit and run cases will be withdrawn soon.
Conclusion:
The hit and run case can be effective but it should not affect family members who caused accidents because that might bring chaos in family members for 10 years of jail or a 7 lakh fine. Informing police officers about the one who caused it can be a good and effective way to save lives but the government should consider the punishment given in this case. As the government said there is no action taken as of now regarding hit and run cases the situation is stable for now but somewhere or sometimes this law must be followed so the government should be cautious about whether this law to be followed or withdrawn.
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