The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has directed that a case be registered against the driver of a bus who spoke on his mobile phone for nearly 10 minutes while at the wheels.
The private bus ‘Kasinathan’, with a number of passengers, including infants, was heading from the Government Medical College to East Fort.
His phone conversation while driving was recorded on a mobile phone by one of the passengers and posted on WhatsApp.
It was after it went viral that the human rights commission stepped in.
Commission acting chairperson P. Mohandas said driving while talking on the phone was an offence just as driving under the influence of alcohol was. He directed the State Police Chief and the Transport Commissioner to conduct checks across the State to identify those driving while talking on the mobile phone.
Talking on the phone while driving was dangerous to travellers, pedestrians, and other motorists, he said. He said a criminal case be registered against the driver for negligent driving and talking on the mobile phone. He also sought a report on the action taken in three weeks.