00:03The recent Dwarka case where a 17-year-old allegedly making reels
00:07rammed an SUV into a motorcyclist, killing him and seriously injuring a cab driver
00:14has once again put the spotlight on minors behind the wheel.
00:21Again and again we see cases of reckless driving by minors.
00:25But this is not just about one teenager. It's about parental responsibility.
00:31Police reports suggest that the SUV already had multiple chalans for overspeeding.
00:37It's also been claimed that this was not the first time that this particular minor had taken the car out.
00:42So who is legally responsible? The law is clear.
00:46In 2019, the Motor Vehicles Act was amended to tighten liability in cases involving minors.
00:52Under section 199A, if a minor is caught driving, the parent, guardian or the vehicle owner is deemed guilty
01:00unless they can prove that the offence happened without their knowledge or consent.
01:06That means the parents or the owner of the car can face up to 3 years in jail and a
01:1225,000 rupee fine
01:13and cancellation of the vehicle's registration for 12 months.
01:17That means yes, the car cannot legally be used for one year.
01:22Under section 180, allowing an unauthorized person to drive carries up to 3 months imprisonment
01:28and a 5,000 rupee fine, which compounds if there are more than one incident.
01:34And there is more.
01:34The minor will not be eligible to get a driving license till they attain the age of 25.
01:41And beyond criminal liability, there is civil liability.
01:44The victim's family can seek compensation.
01:47Courts can award substantial damages.
01:50And in multiple judgments, courts have held that insurance companies can refuse to honor claims
01:55if the accident was caused by an unauthorized minor driver.
01:59Which means that the financial responsibility to pay compensation falls directly on the family of the minor driver.
02:07Recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court observed that elders in a family have a solemn duty
02:12to restrain minors from paths not meant for their age.
02:18And in the Dwarka case, we saw the father apologizing and claiming that he was not present when the keys
02:23were taken.
02:24The investigation will determine the facts.
02:26But one thing is certain.
02:28When a minor takes the wheel, it is not just a traffic violation.
02:31It's a legal risk for the parent and it can destroy lives.
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