The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has issued a circular addressing the increasing incidents of underage driving among students in the Kashmir division.
The circular, of which a copy is available with The Kashmiriyat, highlights the grave risks posed to public safety and the frequent involvement of minors in road accidents.
In a bid to prevent such occurrences, the DSEK has directed all government and private recognized schools, along with coaching centers, to strictly prohibit students from driving any motor vehicle, including two-wheelers and four-wheelers, to their institutions.
The circular mandates heads of institutions to ensure strict compliance by disallowing entry to students arriving at schools or coaching centers in motor vehicles.
Parents and guardians are to be informed of their responsibility to prevent their children from driving before the legal age.
The directive further emphasizes the need for active parental involvement in addressing this issue.
In addition to enforcement measures, the DSEK has instructed schools to organize awareness campaigns in collaboration with the Traffic Police.
These initiatives aim to educate students and parents on road safety, the legal implications of underage driving under the Motor Vehicles Act, and the critical role of parental supervision.
Parent-teacher meetings are to be utilized as a platform to discuss the dangers of underage driving and highlight the public safety risks it poses.
The circular warns that institutions found violating these instructions will face severe consequences, including withdrawal of recognition and cancellation of registration. Heads of institutions have been reminded that non-compliance may also invite legal action under the Motor Vehicles Act. The DSEK has called for widespread dissemination of this directive to ensure strict adherence and to safeguard public safety.
This initiative comes in response to the rising number of road accidents involving minors and underscores the need for collective accountability among schools, parents, and law enforcement agencies to curb this dangerous trend.