In a major order to augment public transport safety, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all states and Union Territories to ensure the strict implementation of a rule requiring location tracking features and panic buttons to be installed in taxis and other public service vehicles (S Rajaseekaran vs. Union of India and Others).
A bench of justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan today said that it was disturbing that less than 1 per cent of transport vehicles have vehicle location tracking devices.
Such features could ensure the safety of passengers, particularly women, elderly and children, the Court pointed out.
"We direct all States and Union Territories to strictly enforce Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 by ensuring the installation of vehicle location tracking devices and panic buttons in a time-bound and verifiable manner in both new and existing public service vehicles," the Court proceeded to direct.
It added that no public service vehicle can be granted a fitness certificate or transport permit unless it is fitted with vehicle location tracking devices (VLTDs) and emergency/ panic buttons.
The installation of these features must also be reflected in the Vahan app, the Court said.
"We also direct all States and UTs to ensure integration of VLTD installation and functionality with the Vahan database for real-time compliance monitoring," it said.
The Court also issued directions to ensure that existing public service vehicles are fitted with these features.
"We further direct the States and Union Territories to ensure retrofitting of VLTDs and panic buttons in public service vehicles registered up to 21.12.2018 in line with Rule 125H of the CMVR to enhance passenger safety.
The Court also agreed with a suggestion that vehicles must be sold with VLTDs and panic buttons pre-installed by the manufacturers themselves.
To examine whether such a move can be implemented, the Court directed the Central government to interact with vehicle manufacturers across India and submit a report.
The Court passed the order in a case concerning the implementation of road safety measures in India.
Other important directions passed in today's order include the following:
Speed governors in vehicles: The Court criticised various states for their failure to file reports on the enforcement of a rule concerning the installation of speed-limiting devices or speed governors in vehicles. The Court emphasised that all vehicle manufacturers are required to fit speed-limiting devices in vehicles.
"By the next date, all States shall place their reports on record. All manufacturers are bound to fit SLDs. State Governments shall file fresh comprehensive affidavits setting out due SLD compliance, duly supported by Vahan/Parivahan portal statistics," it said.
Road Safety Board must be set up in three months: The bench took critical note of the fact that the national road safety board is yet to be set up despite earlier court directions.
"We grant one last opportunity to constitute the Board within a period of three months from today," the Court ordered.
Revival of motor accident cases in UP: One of the issues pending before the Court was to do with an amendment introduced by the Uttar Pradesh government whereby all motor vehicle accident cases before a particular cut-off date were proposed to be closed. The move was aimed at reducing case backlogs.
The Court had earlier suggested that some exceptions be carved out so that serious motor accident cases involving non-compoundable offences are not closed in this manner.
Today, the Bench took note of an ordinance passed by the State in April to modify the amendment so that serious motor accident cases are not closed. The Court said this would need further deliberation.
"We are of the view that some deliberation is required in this regard. Counsel for the State of Uttar Pradesh shall furnish information on how many such cases would stand revived and what the modalities would be," the Bench said.
The petition before the Court was filed in 2012 by a Coimbatore-based orthopaedic surgeon who had raised concerns about the large number of road accidents that occur in India.
The petitioner sought directions for coordinated efforts to prevent road accidents, and to improve existing infrastructure and facilities catering to post-accident care, to minimise the loss of life and physical injuries to victims of road accidents.
Over the years, the Court passed several directions in the matter, including for the
formation of a steering committee to address road safety issues and to enforce the
Motor Vehicles Act. In August 2025, the Court added that it will also consider issuing directions for the formation of portals to facilitate the payment of compensation to victims of road accidents.
In October last year, the Court ordered all States and Union Territories to frame rules to ensure pedestrian safety and to regulate the movement of non-motorised vehicles (cycles, hand carts and so on) in public spaces.
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