Jaipur, July 9: In an unprecedented road safety initiative, judicial officers across Rajasthan stepped out of courtrooms and onto the streets to conduct surprise inspections of luxury sleeper buses and school transport vehicles, amid growing concerns over bus fires and passenger safety.

Authorities have already seized nine buses during the statewide drive, with officials indicating that more vehicles are likely to be impounded as inspections continue.

Officials said passenger convenience will be prioritised during enforcement. Passengers travelling in buses found violating safety norms will first be dropped at their destinations before the vehicles are escorted to police stations or face suspension of their permits, depending on the nature of the violations.

Pawan Kumar Jeenwal, Secretary of the Jaipur District Legal Services Authority, said the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RALSA) initiated the campaign after taking serious note of recurring bus fire incidents, particularly the fatal accidents in Phalodi and Dausa, where several passengers lost their lives.

"We found that many luxury sleeper buses were flouting mandatory safety standards. Instead of the required four emergency exits, most buses had only one. Operators had also altered seat spacing to create additional luggage space, violating prescribed norms. In several cases, the original bus body had been modified, compromising passenger safety. We are ensuring strict implementation of these safety standards," Jeenwal said.

The inspections have revealed multiple violations, resulting in the seizure of nine buses and the issuance of challans to 15 vehicles.

In Jaipur, Pallavi Sharma, Secretary (Judge) of the District Legal Services Authority (Metropolitan-II), led surprise inspections at Chomu Puliya and Bus Stand No. 14. During the operation, officials detected a bus registered in Madhya Pradesh that was allegedly operating with a Rajasthan registration plate, prompting immediate action.

Inspectors also found that emergency exits and windows in several luxury buses had been obstructed by unauthorised seats and sleeper berths. Some vehicles had illegally constructed cabins that could hinder passenger evacuation during emergencies.

The inspection teams measured vehicle dimensions to verify compliance with emergency exit requirements and examined the spacing between sleeper berths to ensure adherence to safety regulations.

Authorities also checked luggage compartments to confirm that passenger buses were not being used to transport commercial goods, a practice prohibited under transport rules. School buses operating in the inspected areas were also examined for compliance with prescribed safety standards.

The joint inspection teams comprised judicial officers, transport department officials and traffic police personnel, who verified vehicle documents and inspected safety features before initiating enforcement action against violators.

The Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority has launched the month-long campaign following a series of recent bus accidents and fire incidents across the state. Similar surprise inspections will be carried out at major inter-state transport hubs, including Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Sri Ganganagar, Alwar, Bhilwara, Rajsamand and Sikar.

According to Hariom Sharma Atri, Member Secretary of the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority, the first phase of the campaign is focused on long-distance luxury buses. Vehicles found violating prescribed safety norms will face penalties, including fines and impoundment, as part of efforts to strengthen passenger safety and improve compliance across Rajasthan.