Allahabad High Court issues notice to transport ministry over bus safety standards

PRAYAGRAJ — The Allahabad High Court has issued a notice to the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, expressing serious concern over the disregard of safety standards following the Yamuna Expressway bus fire incident.

The single bench of Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery took suo motu cognizance of the bus fire after the state government failed to clarify during proceedings whether the accident-involved vehicle had complied with mandated safety rules. The court ordered the state government and central authorities to submit a comprehensive plan by November 17 for conducting night bus inspections, monitoring designated stops, and supervising modified buses.

The bench observed that if safety violations are established, strict legal measures must be taken not only against the driver and conductor but also against the licence holder, noting that restrictions on bus operations should be considered if necessary.

The high court’s intervention follows the Yamuna Expressway accident on September 24, 2026. During the hearings, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Transport Department submitted an affidavit stating that between April and September 2026, authorities challaned 7,665 buses and seized 1,008 vehicles. The affidavit also noted that All India Tourist Permits issued for sleeper buses increased from 252 in 2023 and 340 in 2024 to 610 in 2025, reaching 1,104 between April and September 2026.

Data presented previously in Parliament indicates broader safety concerns surrounding vehicle fires. According to figures shared by the Minister for Road Transport and Highways in the Rajya Sabha, 45 bus fire incidents occurred nationwide between January 2023 and December 10, 2025, resulting in 64 deaths and 145 injuries. Previous fatal incidents in Uttar Pradesh include three deaths on the Rae Bareli-Prayagraj-Lucknow route in July 2023, four deaths on the Kannauj-Lucknow-Agra Expressway in November 2024, and 13 fatalities on the Yamuna Expressway in December 2025.

The next hearing is scheduled for November 17, when the Union ministry secretary is expected to respond and the state government must submit its unified action plan.