Beltangady: A court in Beltangady has convicted the owner of a motorcycle for allowing his minor brother to ride the vehicle, leading to a fatal road accident that claimed the life of a scooter rider in July 2024. The court sentenced the accused to one day’s imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 35,000, while also directing that the minor should not be issued a driving licence until he attains the age of 25.

The court also ordered the suspension of the registration certificate of the motorcycle involved in the accident for one year.

Court delivers verdict in fatal accident case

The judgment relates to a road accident that occurred on the night of July 20, 2024, at Turkalike in Karaya, under the jurisdiction of Beltangady.

According to the prosecution, the minor was riding a motorcycle from Murogoli towards Kalleri when the bike collided with a scooter.

The scooter rider, identified as Shivananda, suffered severe head injuries in the collision. Despite medical efforts, he later succumbed to his injuries.

Following the investigation and trial, the court held the motorcycle owner responsible for permitting the minor to ride the vehicle.

Brother held responsible

The court convicted Abdul Hakeem, a resident of Thanneerpantha and the elder brother of the minor rider.

The prosecution argued that Abdul Hakeem had entrusted the motorcycle to his underage brother, thereby allowing him to ride on a public road without being legally eligible to do so.

Accepting the prosecution’s case, the court sentenced Abdul Hakeem to one day’s simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 35,000.

The ruling highlights the legal responsibility of vehicle owners in preventing unauthorised or underage persons from operating motor vehicles.

Court issues strict directions

Apart from the sentence and fine, the court issued significant directions aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.

The judge directed the Regional Transport Office (RTO) not to issue a driving licence to the minor involved in the accident until he reaches the age of 25 years.

In addition, the court ordered the suspension of the registration certificate (RC) of the motorcycle involved in the accident for a period of one year.

The directions underline the seriousness with which the court viewed the consequences of allowing an underage person to ride a motor vehicle.

Prosecution presented evidence

The prosecution was represented by Assistant Public Prosecutor Divyaraj Hegde from Puttur, who argued the case before the court.

Based on the evidence presented during the trial, the court concluded that the vehicle owner bore responsibility for enabling the minor to ride the motorcycle, ultimately resulting in the fatal accident.

Message on road safety

The verdict serves as a reminder of the legal consequences of permitting minors to ride motor vehicles. Road safety laws prohibit underage driving, and vehicle owners can be held accountable if they knowingly allow minors to use their vehicles.

Authorities have repeatedly urged parents and guardians not to hand over vehicles to underage children, warning that such actions can lead to criminal liability in the event of accidents.

The court’s decision reinforces the need for strict adherence to traffic laws and responsible vehicle ownership to protect lives on public roads.