Superintendent of Police Harish Pande warned of stringent action against those who ferry labourers in goods carrying vehicles.
Speaking at a meeting of coffee growers convened by the Police Department here on Tuesday, he said there are several instances of labourers losing their lives in accidents. To reduce the expenditure, the growers should not transport labourers in goods vehicles.
"If anyone is found transporting labourers in goods vehicles, then such vehicles will be seized and the permit and registration of the vehicles will be suspended. If the goods vehicle meets with an accident while ferrying labourers, then cases would be booked against estate owners," he warned.
He said that on an experimental basis, fines will be imposed on goods vehicles transporting people across the district.
A few labour organisations are getting ready to stage a protest. The labourers should not lose their lives for the sake of earning wages. There is a need to give priority to the safety of labourers, he said.
There are Supreme Court guidelines to check goods or luggage carrying vehicles carrying passengers. The court in its order had clearly stated that police would be held responsible for the death of people while carrying them in goods vehicles.
DSP Basappa Angadi said, "Ferrying people in goods carrying vehicles amounts to a violation of human rights."
Karnataka Growers Federation President U M Theerthamallesh said, "We cannot survive without labourers. The government in Assam has allowed carrying passengers in goods carrying vehicles in a few districts situated on hilly areas. The rules should be modified in the district."
Further, he said KSRTC buses should be introduced to a junction connecting four to five coffee estates. The police should allow carrying labourers from the junction to the coffee estates in goods carrying vehicles.
Karnataka Growers Federation former president Jairam Ramesh said, "There are quarters for labourers in coffee estates. We will try to persuade labourers to stay in the quarters."