TUCI Stands in Solidarity with the Struggling Truck Drivers

Press Release

TUCI Stands in Solidarity with the Struggling Truck Drivers

The Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita enacted by Modi regime in the guise of ‘Indianising’ colonial-era criminal laws, has increased jail terms and penal provisions for hit-and-run cases. As per provisions of the new law, hit-and-run cases (if drivers run away from the accident spot) can attract a 10-year jail term and a fine of Rs 7 lakh. Against this draconian law, the truck drivers and transporters have declared countrywide strike at the dawn of the new year.

Actually, the drivers do not want to kill anybody, and most accidents occur due to the conditions of the road and utter neglect of signalling and other security needs by government which are essential for safe transportation. Many accidents are beyond the control of drivers. And in many hit-and-run cases, drivers are fleeing not with the intention of evading their responsibilty for the accidents. Instead, the drivers are forced to run to safeguard their life from the potential threat posed by angry mobs and local residents. And it is the total lack of security on the road and lack of rule of law, etc., on the road that force drivers to flee.

At present, following identification, the accused in hit-and-run cases are tried under Section 304A of IPC which carries a maximum 2-year jail sentence. Now instead of resolving the causes behind accidents as well as increasing the civic consciousness of the people, a five-fold increase in jail term by the new Law is fascistic. And increasing punishment including jail-term, which is draconian, offers no solution for the the occurrence of accidents, which may happen even due to fog and climatic changes, which are not the fault of drivers.

In this context, TUCI declares its wholehearted solidarity with the striking workers. It appeals to the people to come forward supporting the genuine demand of the truck drivers. TUCI also calls for an immediate repeal of the black law that arbitrarily raises a 5-fold increase in punishment on drivers.

R Manasayya
Co-Ordinator
Trade Union Centre Of India (TUCI)
01/01/2024
New Delhi