Queues at fuel stations in Bhopal, some other cities; tanker drivers protest over new law against hit-and-run cases

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India]: People faced long queues at fuel stations in areas of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday as transport associations and drivers staged a protest against the provisions in the new law concerning hit-and-run cases.

There was an impact of the driver’s strike at various fuel pumps in the state capital Bhopal besides Indore and some other places.

People came to fuel stations apprehending a shortage in fuel supply. There were queues at petrol pumps since morning.

Under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the Indian Penal Code, drivers who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing the police or any official from the administration can face punishment of up to 10 years or a fine of Rs 7 lakh. Earlier, the punishment in such cases was two years in the IPC.

The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023 were passed in the Winter session of Parliament to replace the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act.

Private transport operators claim the new law discourages drivers and may lead to unjust punishments. They claim that the drivers could be subject to mob violence when they attempt to transport the injured to hospitals and demanded that law should be amended.