The Madras High Court imposed a ban on ‘Bus Day’ celebrations in 2011 owing to public nuisance and threat to road-users. The police, too, had issued warnings against the practice many a time. Despite the ban and vigil, students continue to indulge in it. In the latest incident, students of a particular college in the city threw caution to the wind on the very first day of the new academic year Monday and went ahead with their plans, posing a risk to themselves and others.
This resulted in over 20 students falling from the roof of a moving MTC bus, the video of which has gone viral on social media. One of the youth has suffered grievous injuries and the police have started a crackdown against the wrong-doers. Even after strict warnings, students celebrate Bus Day, knowing fully well the disturbance they cause. It has emerged that many were old students influencing freshers to celebrate Bus Day by creating a ruckus.
Bus Day was celebrated in the past as a thanksgiving to the driver and the conductor who are regulars on a particular college route. Over time, the celebrations have turned into a nuisance for the public with students forcing the driver to drive the vehicle very slowly, thereby blocking traffic on busy roads. The students hijack the bus and create all sorts of nuisance. It is good that the police have registered cases under CrPC section 143, 290 Indian Penal Code and 41(VI) of MCP Act and 10 students were named accused in the case for creating nuisance in public. Only strict action will put an end to this bad habit.