New Delhi: The truck drivers ended their nationwide stir against the new hit-and-run law on Tuesday late night after the representatives of All India Motor Transport Association (AIMTC) met Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla. During the meeting, Bhalla assured the representatives of AIMTC that the contentious laws would be implemented only after consultation with the transporters’ body.
Calling off the strike, AIMTC chairman Malkit Singh Bal said that the discussions were held with the Union Home Secretary over the provisions of the new hit-and-run law i.e. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. “The new laws have not been implemented in the country yet and will only be implemented after consultation with AIMTC,” he added. Bal went on to add that the truck drivers must resume the operations.
We have informed them that the new law has not been implemented yet. We will hold a discussion with AIMTC before implementing Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 106/2,” Bhalla said after meeting with the representatives of the transporters’ body.
Truck drivers’ nationwide protest
Truck drivers across the country had on Monday announced the strike against the increase of punishment in the hit-and-run cases under the new law – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The truck drivers’ strike resulted in chaos in several states, triggering ‘panic buying’. Long queues were witnessed at many petrol pumps amid uncertainty due to the massive protest.
Hit-and-run law
The new hit-and-run law (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) will replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC) after it is implemented. As per new law, the drivers will either have to serve imprisonment for up to 10 years or have to pay a fine of Rs 7 lakhs if they flee the spot without reporting the accident to the authorities. As per the current provisions under IPC, the punishment for the offense is 2 years imprisonment.
