Nationwide protests have erupted as private and truck drivers express vehement opposition to the stringent provisions of the new Hit and Run Law under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). This law, a replacement for the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, significantly increases the penalties for drivers who cause serious road accidents due to negligence and flee the scene without informing the authorities. The BNS stipulates a punishment of up to 10 years in jail or a fine of ₹7 lakh, a substantial increase from the previous two-year penalty outlined in the IPC.
The Winter Session of Parliament saw the passage of key legislation, including the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023. These laws brought significant changes to the criminal justice system by replacing the IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act.
Drivers across the country have launched protests against the heightened jail terms for ‘hit-and-run’ cases, arguing that accidents are rarely intentional, and fleeing is often a response to threats from enraged mobs. They fear the new provisions will discourage drivers and jeopardize their livelihoods.
Drivers emphasize that accidents are influenced by various uncontrollable factors, such as poor visibility during fog. They argue that the new law could lead to unjust imprisonment for drivers without clear fault. The protests have disrupted the transportation system, leaving passengers stranded at bus stations in various cities. Participants include truckers, private bus drivers, and even government bus drivers, with reports suggesting cab drivers have joined in certain states.
The unrest has impacted fuel supply, with long queues forming at petrol pumps in Nagpur and Himachal Pradesh. Some fuel stations in Nashik faced closure as protesters prevented tankers from refueling. On the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway, a significant gathering staged a rasta roko (road blockade) to demand the withdrawal of the contentious provision.
Beyond Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh, drivers in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have also halted operations, intensifying the demand for the withdrawal of the new penal law provision. Fears of a fuel shortage prompted people to rush to petrol pumps in various cities. Transport Minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh has urged the protesting drivers to engage in discussions with the government to address their concerns.
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