More Stories

Informist, Wednesday, May 13, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Wednesday directed all states and Union territories to ensure mandatory installation of vehicle location-tracking devices and panic buttons in new and existing public service vehicles. No public service vehicle shall be granted a fitness certificate under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 without verified installation of vehicle location tracking devices and emergency buttons, said the apex court.

 

The bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan asked states and Union territories to ensure integration of vehicle location tracking devices installation and functionality with the Vahan database for real-time compliance monitoring. The bench accepted the suggestion of amicus curiae that these devices should be provided by the manufacturer of vehicles themselves as a pre-fitted device. The Centre will have to undertake interaction with manufacturers across the country for pre-fitting of vehicle location tracking devices and emergency buttons, said the court. It directed the Centre to undertake the exercise and place an appropriate report before the court.

 

The top court said that it was disturbing that less than 1% of the public transport vehicles had location tracking devices. Such features could ensure the safety of passengers, particularly women, elderly and children, said the court.

 

Further, the apex court said all car manufacturers are bound to fit speed limiting devices in public vehicles. It criticised states and Union territories for not filing reports on the enforcement of rules on installation of speed limiting devices. The top court asked states and Union territories to file fresh affidavits setting out due compliance of speed limiting devices.    

 

The Supreme Court observed that the National Safety Road Board was not constituted despite six months granted by the bench for the same. The top court gave one last opportunity to the Centre for constituting the board within three months. 

 

The bench was hearing a plea by an orthopaedic surgeon S. Rajaseekaran, who raised concerns about the large number of road accidents occurring in India. The apex court, over the years, has passed several directions to address road safety.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.