Kochi: Kochi City Police on Friday informed the high court that the private bus driver arrested in connection with the Nov 4 accident at Kuzhikattumoola in Kakkanad, in which a 29-year-old woman was killed after being run over by the bus, had criminal cases pending against him, including an NDPS case registered at Thoppumpady police station.
He said the details of more than 1,300 private bus employees had already been verified. On Friday, the bench specifically examined the Nov 4 accident in which Akshara A, 29, was killed. The bench accordingly adjourned the petitions to Nov 13.
Regarding public surveillance cameras on roads, the DCP said many were not functioning, but steps had been taken to restore them immediately. The police would soon formulate a protocol in this regard, he said. When the court asked how the police had failed to detect the criminal antecedents of the driver involved in the Kuzhikattumoola accident, the DCP said the application submitted by the bus owner for verification of the driver’s details did not contain information about his criminal cases. Noting the absence of a pedestrian pathway at the spot, the bench said it was the responsibility of the police and other authorities to regulate traffic in such a manner as to prevent accidents.
Deputy commissioner of police (law and order) Arun K Pavithran further informed the court that the police were introducing a smart ID system with QR codes for every employee of a public transport vehicle to enable effective monitoring. He added that once the smart ID system was implemented, bus owners and vehicles could also be held accountable for the actions of their employees, particularly drivers. He added that the police were now verifying the details furnished in applications submitted for all public transport employees and that those found to have criminal antecedents would be placed in an adverse category. Had this requirement been implemented, the accident at Kuzhikattumoola could have been avoided, the bench observed. A bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran was considering petitions concerning traffic and road conditions in Kochi. After perusing a video clip of the accident, the court observed that Akshara had been walking along the extreme edge of the road, with her movement further restricted by posts and other installations. The court apologised to her bereaved family for the failure of the system that was supposed to protect her. Referring to several roads, including internal roads in Kochi city, that lacked adequate pedestrian pathways, the court warned that similar accidents could recur. The DCP assured the court that the police would take immediate steps to prevent such incidents.
The court reminded the police that they had earlier informed it that obtaining police clearance certificates had been made mandatory for public transport employees.