A complaint has been filed before the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights against the failure of State authorities to ensure safe road infrastructure, school-zone safety, and secure access to educational institutions in Hyderabad and the State of Telangana.
The complaint was filed under the Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, and it was mentioned that as per the official data released by the Hyderabad Traffic Police, between January and May 2025, Hyderabad had recorded 1604 road traffic accidents, out of which 141 were fatal. In the same period, 128 minor children were also involved in road accidents. The data also reflected that Telangana records 7000 road accident deaths annually with children constituting 10-15% of such fatalities.
It was asserted that as per government surveys, a majority of school zones lacked mandatory safety infrastructure, including school-zone warning signs, speed limit boards, zebra crossings, speed breakers, etc. Further, the complainant averred that the said accidents were a consequence of continuing institutional and administrative failures in implementing mandatory road safety measures and relied upon the Supreme Court’s decision in Unni Krishnan, J.P. & Ors. v. State of Andhra Pradesh AIR 1993 SC 2178.
The respondent authorities held responsible were the State of Telangana, Dept. of School Education, Telangana, Home Department, Telangana, Transport Department, Telangana, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, Telangana, Director General of Police, Telangana, Hyderabad City Police, Hyderabad Traffic Police, and the Ministry of Education.
The complaint mentioned that the acts of the respondent authorities were violative of Articles 14, 21, and 21-A of the Constitution, and that the failure to provide safe school access defeats the mandate under Article 15(3). It was also stated that the deficiencies were inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and that the respondent authorities had failed to effectively implement the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The complainant sought directions upon the authorities to submit Action Taken Reports indicating district-wise compliance and proposed measures along with installation of essential safety infrastructure in school zones. The plea before the Commission was also to direct strict enforcement against underage driving, overcrowding of school transport and other violations. Lastly, the complainant sought periodic safety inspections of school transport vehicles and mandatory medical exams of school transport drivers as well as a transparent mechanism for monitoring accidents involving children.