Supreme Court Clears Bus Driver in Fatal 2011 Mishap

The Supreme Court has overturned a conviction against a bus driver accused of causing a fatal accident in 2011, ruling he acted in accordance with the conductor's directions. The decision highlights the responsibility the conductor has in managing bus operations, including signaling when to drive or stop.

Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N V Anjaria concluded that the victim may have fallen due to her own misstep while exiting the vehicle. The bench noted the driver cannot be held culpable for negligence when he relied on the conductor's instructions. This judgment came after the driver's appeal against the Karnataka High Court's ruling of six months' simple imprisonment for negligent driving.

The court emphasized the role of the conductor in communicating when the bus should halt for passengers to disembark, thus justifying the driver's dependency on whistled signals and other cues. It stated that the driver's primary focus is driving and any negligence charge must consider this operational dynamic.

(With inputs from agencies.)