The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways vide its notification dated 29th September 2020 has published the Central Motor Vehicles (Twelfth Amendment) Rules, 2020 to further amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
The Amendment brings in a new chapter IX after Rule 167 for the examination of Good Samaritan and Enquiry.
Any person who is a Good Samaritan, as per section 134A of the Act, shall have the rights detailed under this chapter, and shall be treated respectfully without any discrimination on the grounds of religion, nationality, caste or sex.
A Good Samaritan who has informed the police of any accident involving a motor vehicle, or who has transported a victim of an accident involving a motor vehicle to the hospital, shall not be subjected to any further requirements by the police or the hospital, and shall be permitted to leave immediately.
The new Section 169 deals with the examination of good Samaritan in which a person who has voluntarily agreed to become a witness in the case in which he has acted as a Good Samaritan, he shall be examined in accordance with the provisions of this rule.
The examination of a Good Samaritan shall be conducted at a time and place of his convenience, such as his place of residence or business, and the investigating officer shall accordingly be dressed in plain clothes.
Video conferencing shall be used extensively during the examination of Good Samaritans who choose to be eye-witnesses, in order to prevent harassment and inconvenience to such Good Samaritans.
