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School Bus Is Extension of School: Karnataka HC Holds Management Responsible for Student Safety Under Section 125(a) BNS
In a significant ruling concerning the safety of students beyond the classroom, the
has firmly established that a school bus is an
"
."
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, while presiding over a plea to
, held that school managements cannot evade their
toward students the moment they step into a school bus.
The Case Background The petition was filed by the management of in Mandya, seeking to quash an FIR (Crime No. 94/2025) registered under . The legal dispute arose after a child, while traveling on a school bus on , suffered a severe eye injury when other students used colored sparklers inside the vehicle. The injury resulted in a permanent 40% disability to the child's body.
The complainant alleged , citing the lack of proper school bus supervision, the absence of an attendant, and non-functional CCTV cameras. The petitioner argued that the act was caused by another student and that the management could not be held criminally liable for isolated incidents occurring after school hours.
Arguments Presented Counsel for the petitioner contended that the school had taken necessary precautions, including installing CCTV and employing staff, and that the management should not be held responsible for the spontaneous mischief of children inside the bus.
Conversely, counsel for the State and the complainant argued that the school’s extends from the moment the child enters the school's custody until they are safely returned to their parents. They highlighted that the CCTV was non-functional and that the failure to deploy an attendant was a clear breach of the .
Legal Analysis and Observations The Court examined the statutory mandates requiring attendants to accompany students on school buses to ensure their safety. Justice Nagaprasanna emphasized that the school bus is not a "detached island" and that safety is a "," not a matter of convenience.
The Court noted:
"The school bus is not a detached island beyond institutional responsibility; it is an ."
On the necessity of continuing the investigation, the Court observed:
"The schools cannot show a hands off to the responsibility of compliance with the mandate of the statute."
Further, regarding the culpability of the management, the Court held:
"The contention that the act was that of another child and, therefore, the management must stand completely absolved at the threshold, cannot be accepted at this stage."
Court's Decision The rejected the management's petition to quash the FIR, ordering that investigations must continue. The judge emphasized that the precise contours of negligence can only be delineated after a thorough investigation, especially given the tragic, irreversible nature of the child's injury.
This decision reinforces the high standard of care expected from educational institutions, reaffirming that the statutory duty of school authorities includes active supervision during transportation—ensuring that children are never compromised during their journey to and from school. The ruling serves as a stern reminder to schools across the state that are not mere formalities but .
