The Kerala High Court has strongly criticised the reckless driving of private buses in Kochi, describing some drivers as “Yamas on the streets”, a reference to the god of death. Justice Devan Ramachandran made the remarks on November 6 after watching video footage of a private bus fatally hitting a young woman in Kakkanad. The court asked why the police and transport authorities were unable to control dangerous bus driving before it resulted in deaths.
The remarks came during proceedings concerning road conditions and public safety, reported the IndianExpress. The court’s concern was not limited to the driver involved in the accident. It also questioned bus operators, weak enforcement, the absence of usable footpaths and the failure to monitor drivers who continue to break traffic rules.
The case follows the death of Akshara, a young IT professional working at Infopark. She was returning from a fitness centre on November 4 when a private bus allegedly travelling at excessive speed struck her near Kuzhikkattumoola Junction in Kakkanad. According to police reports, she was walking near the edge of the road. The bus ran over her, and she later died in hospital.
The driver was arrested, and the police registered a case under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which concerns culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Those are allegations at this stage; an arrest and registration of a case do not amount to a conviction. The police are investigating the circumstances of the collision.
After viewing the footage, the judge asked why pedestrians were being forced onto roads with little or no space to walk safely. He questioned the practice of buses overtaking dangerously, sounding their horns to intimidate other road users and putting their schedules ahead of safety. The court also pointed out that parking and encroachments make existing footpaths unusable in many places.
Kochi Deputy Commissioner of Police Arun K Pavithran informed the court that the police were working on a Smart ID system for private bus drivers and other public transport employees. The proposed cards would use QR codes, making it easier to verify employee details and maintain a record of violations.
The High Court directed the police to bring every private bus driver under the system and gave them a week to act. The police also told the court that violations could be referred to the Motor Vehicles Department for further action, including possible permit cancellation in applicable cases.
The judge wanted responsibility to extend beyond the person holding the steering wheel. If a bus owner repeatedly employs a driver who ignores the law, the operator and vehicle should also face appropriate enforcement. Otherwise, briefly suspending a licence may do little to change the behaviour that caused the problem.
The court reiterated that the Traffic Eye complaint number, 6238100100, must be displayed prominently on private buses. It would allow passengers, pedestrians and other road users to report reckless driving. The police also acknowledged that several roadside surveillance cameras were not working and said steps were being taken to restore them.
The court separately warned the Kochi Corporation over its failure to provide and maintain pedestrian space. Even careful pedestrians cannot protect themselves from every badly driven bus when they have no footpath and must walk beside moving traffic.
The judge indicated that continued non-compliance with earlier directions could invite contempt proceedings. The hearing has been listed again for November 13.