The careless, inflicting death on the roads will no longer be spared

February 23, 2026

The number of deaths of innocent drivers due to reckless driving is increasing every year. However, in cases of accidental deaths, some wealthy individuals used to escape punishment through their financial power. The practice was to settle the case before the court’s decision by paying substantial compensation to the victim’s family. Now, to prevent such accused from escaping punishment, the judiciary has recently made the necessary amendment to the law.

In the past, it was common for victims who died in accidents to receive no justice because the deceased could neither appeal nor defend. Therefore, compensation was considered by giving money to their surviving dependents. But the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh, responding to a similar petition, ruled that criminals who drive recklessly on the roads are not entitled to pardons. Pardons cannot be bought with money.

The court has revoked the right to pardon someone’s death for money. The Court argued that the loss of a person’s life does not absolve the perpetrators of the crime with the signatures of the compensated heirs. The person responsible for the death must be punished; otherwise, what good is the justice system and the penal code?

This would shake public confidence. In some cases, drivers argued that they were contract employees, so the responsibility for safety rested not with them but with the actual vehicle owner. The High Court said, “Who are they to decide this? The decision on who is guilty and who is not will be based on the evidence.”

Accidents that occur on wide roads due to human negligence or speeding, resulting in increased loss of human life, are a serious crime. Criminal proceedings cannot be dismissed solely on the basis of a monetary settlement, as the constitutional provision for quashing an FIR based on a settlement only applies when the victim’s complaint is no longer pending.

However, these deaths are considered to have been caused by negligent driving under Section 304-A of the Indian Penal Code. The primary victim is the deceased, who is still seeking justice. This observation by the High Court is undoubtedly correct, and if implemented in its full intent, it could curb deaths caused by reckless driving or the vanity of large vehicles to some extent. We believe that victims must receive justice.

At the same time, corruption and backroom collusion within the system must be eliminated.