## Two Days Indian Driver Strike Against Hit-and-Run Law

 ## Two Days Indian Driver Strike Against Hit-and-Run Law,

Movement of all commercial vehicles in Assam is likely to come to a halt as a joint forum of all transporters' unions called for a strike for 48 hours from Friday to protest against the new penal law on hit-and-run cases.

 ## Two Days Indian Driver Strike Against Hit-and-Run Law

Multiple associations of public transport, including buses, cabs and autos, goods carriers, and fuel tankers, have joined hands and announced their participation in the agitation.

Assam Truck, bus, and tanker drivers across India launched a nationwide strike on January 5 and 6, 2024, protesting against the stringent jail and fine regulations under the newly enacted hit-and-run law. The law, which replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, imposes harsher punishments for drivers who cause serious road accidents due to negligent driving and flee the scene without informing the authorities.

### Key Points of the New Hit-and-Run Law

- The new law, known as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, provides for up to ten years of punishment in hit-and-run cases.

- Under the previous Indian Penal Code, the maximum jail term for hit-and-run cases was two years.

- The new law aims to deter drivers from committing hit-and-run accidents and fleeing the scene.

### Impact of the Strike

The strike has affected vehicle movement and fuel supply across states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Long queues have formed at petrol pumps in several states, including Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. The protest has also sparked fears of fuel shortages, leading to panic buying in some cities.

### Reasons for the Protest

The main reason for the drivers' protest is the stringent regulations under the new hit-and-run law The new law has created a misleading situation, as people are not completely aware of its provisions[1]. The strike was launched by the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and other transporters' associations.

### Resolution

The strike was called off after the Ministry of Home Affairs held discussions with representatives of the AIMTC and assured transporters that a decision on enforcing the stringent provisions in hit-and-run cases under the new law would be taken only after discussions with the transport body. The truck drivers were urged to resume work immediately.

In conclusion, the two-day Indian driver strike against the hit-and-run law highlights the concerns and challenges faced by truck, bus, and tanker drivers in the implementation of the new regulations. The strike's suspension, following assurances from the government, demonstrates the potential for dialogue and compromise to address the issues raised by the drivers.

"The new law on hit-and-run cases is anti-driver and is against owners of vehicles. We call for a strike of all vehicles from 5 am on Friday to 5 am on Sunday to press our demand for withdrawal of the legislation," Das said.

Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), set to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), drivers, who cause serious road accidents due to negligent driving and run away without informing authorities, face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of Rs 7 lakh.

The punishment for such offenses was two years in the British-era IPC.

The transporters' platform has also asked private car owners to join the stir as the law applies to everyone irrespective of whether someone is driving a commercial vehicle or a small car, he added. Meanwhile, long queues were witnessed at petrol pumps across the state with people lining up to fill the tanks of their vehicles amidst fears of fuel shortages.

Citations:

[1] https://www.bodonews.info/2024/01/understanding-indias-new-hit-and-run.html

[2] https://www.bodonews.info/2024/01/prime-minister-narendra-modi-pays.html

[3] https://www.bodonews.info/2024/01/prime-minister-narendra-modi-pays.html

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA6DepKpyGU

[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2UNBvGLd9M