Panel to review action against drivers

The state transport department has assured the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) that a seven-member committee will be set up to look into the demands of the transporters.

Members of the CITU-backed West Bengal Road Transport Worker’s Federation (WBRTWF) met state Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty on Wednesday. CITU has been asking the state government to file a case against bus drivers involved in a fatal accident under Section 304 A of IPC, a bailable offence, instead of Section 304, an unbailable offence.

Subhas Mukherjee, joint secretary, WBRTWF said: “The state government also does not want to file a case against drivers under Section 304 but is forced to book them under the provision following a verdict by the High Court.”

“The committee comprises a special secretary from the home department, an official each from judiciary and transport department, two senior officers from state police and Kolkata police, a member of the WBRTWF and a bus owner. The committee will submit its report in eight weeks,” said Chakraborty.