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22 May 2025, 01:22 PM
The Supreme Court recently questioned the Central Government for failing to implement Section 215B of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and constitute the National Road Safety Board.
A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan granted six months to the Government to ensure that the National Road Safety Board is constituted. The Court clarified that no further time would be granted.
Under Section 215B, the Board's functions include advising the Central Government or State Governments on various aspects related to road safety and traffic management.
These include the standards of design, weight, construction, manufacturing process, operation, and maintenance of motor vehicles and safety equipment; the registration and licensing of motor vehicles; the formulation of standards for road safety, road infrastructure, and traffic control; and the facilitation of safe and sustainable use of the road transport ecosystem.
Additionally, the Board has to advise on the promotion of new vehicle technology, safety of vulnerable road users, programmes for educating and sensitising drivers and other road users, and any other functions prescribed by the Central Government from time to time.
On 17th April 2025, the Court had directed the Central Government to file an affidavit within two weeks specifying the time frame for constituting the Board. The Government of India subsequently filed an affidavit seeking nine months to constitute the National Road Safety Board.
The Court expressed its inability to understand why the Government requires such a long period to implement Section 215B of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Court.
“In terms of the order dated 17th April, 2025 passed by this Court, the Government of India has filed an affidavit seeking time of 09 months to constitute the National Road Safety Board. We fail to understand why the Government of India needs such a long time to implement Section 215B of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. We grant time of 06 months from today to the Government of India to ensure that the National Road Safety Board is constituted. No further time shall be granted”, the Court stated.
On 17th April 2025 the Court had noted Amicus Curiae Gaurav Agrawal's submission that the National Road Safety Board, which carries important functions and duties, remained only on paper as the Chairperson and Members had not been appointed.
The Court pointed out that before the recommendations of the Board can be implemented, the Board must be properly constituted. It had therefore directed the Central Government to file an affidavit indicating the outer limit within which the Board would be constituted. On 17th April, the Court also directed all states and union territories to take effective steps towards developing swift response protocols to ensure that victims of road accidents receive immediate assistance.
Case no. – WP (C) No. 295/2012
Case Title – S. Rajaseekaran v. Union of India and Ors.