The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed all states and Union Territories to immediately recall and remove sleeper buses that violate safety regulations, holding officials accountable for any negligence. This directive follows increasing concerns about passenger safety, particularly after several fatal incidents involving sleeper buses catching fire.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo issued the directions to the Chief Secretaries of all states, emphasizing the urgent need to address the structural flaws in bus designs that endanger passengers' lives. The NHRC's intervention was prompted by a complaint highlighting recurring incidents where passenger buses caught fire mid-journey, resulting in preventable deaths. The complaint cited a specific incident involving a sleeper bus fire on October 14, 2025, on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur highway in Rajasthan.
The NHRC has taken cognizance of the matter under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The commission stated that the design flaws, particularly the separation of the driver's cabin from the passenger compartment, impede timely fire detection and emergency communication, thereby violating Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life. The NHRC also highlighted systemic negligence by vehicle manufacturers and approving authorities.
The commission has directed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to ensure the nationwide enforcement of Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) 052 and AIS 119 during bus registration, renewal, and inspection. AIS 052 pertains to general bus body building, while AIS 119 specifically addresses sleeper buses. Furthermore, the NHRC has instructed MoRTH to develop a mechanism to prevent operators and manufacturers from circumventing mandatory safety norms. According to the MoRTH, the installation of a fire detection and suppression system (FDSS) has been mandatory per AIS:119 since 2019.
The NHRC has called for several immediate actions, including rectifying unsafe sleeper coaches, installing FDSS, removing structural violations, and verifying the accreditation of bus body builders. It has also emphasized the importance of fixing accountability on officials who approved non-compliant vehicles. The commission has sought a comprehensive action-taken report from the Secretary of MoRTH and the Director of the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) within two weeks.
The NHRC has also asked MoRTH to initiate state-level recalls of all non-compliant buses and direct criminal investigations into negligence by approving officials. Additionally, the commission has sought compensation mechanisms for victims and their families to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.
Recent sleeper bus accidents have underscored the severity of the problem. On November 5, 2025, a sleeper bus accident in Chevella, Hyderabad, resulted in 19 fatalities. Similarly, an October 28, 2025, fire in a sleeper bus in Jaipur, Rajasthan, led to eight deaths. These incidents have prompted state human rights commissions to investigate administrative failures and demand safety audits of sleeper bus routes.
The NHRC's directives are aimed at ensuring stricter compliance with safety standards and preventing further loss of life due to negligence and structural flaws in sleeper buses. The commission's proactive measures reflect a commitment to upholding the fundamental right to life and ensuring safer public transportation across the country.
