SC urges severe punishment for rash driving

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has urged lawmakers to consider a change in law to have a more stringent punishment in terms of rash and negligent driving causing death.

Justice Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant asserted that a maximum punishment of two years in jail with fine under Section 304 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) may not serve the purpose of a law being deterrent, which could be an imperative necessity at times.

Section 304A of the IPC deals with the offence of causing death by rash and negligent act and provides for imprisonment for maximum of two years or fine or both.

"India had a disreputable record in this regard and asked the lawmakers to re-look and re-visit the penal laws," said the bench.

The SC was anguished over the growing cases of reckless and drunken driving.