Taking cognizance of the modest six-month jail term for dangerous driving, the Supreme Court of India has asked the Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to revisit the law. This comes after the top law official conceded that punishment for causing death due to rash and negligent driving is ‘inadequate and requires sterner handling’.
The bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra asked the Centre to make sure that negligent drivers who talk on their cell phone, even with a hands-free device should be punished with a longer jail term. The direction came after attorney general Mukul Rohatgi told the court about dangers of using the mobile phone while driving.
According to the law, a person found guilty of causing death due to rash driving under Section 304-A can be jailed for a maximum of two years. For dangerous driving, which falls under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicle Act, the punishment is six months in jail or a fine of Rs 1,000.
“We appreciate the concern shown (by Rohtagi) and we are sure he will apprise the competent authorities to have a revisit of the relevant provisions (of the IPC and Motor Vehicle Act),” the court said in its order, reported NDTV.
