Verdict in favour of private bus organisation but KSRTC still not making a move; not showing interest in filing appeal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The KSRTC is indifferent about filing an appeal despite the High Court verdict, which is a setback to long-distance services that earn significant revenue. Legal advice was obtained to file an appeal.

The high court quashed a provision banning private buses from plying more than 140 km on a petition by bus owners. KSRTC sends superclass buses from the fast passenger class and above for services above 140 km. All services are creating profit. The reply received from the transport minister's office was that further action would be taken in consultation with legal experts.

There are strong allegations that KSRTC and the transport department have failed in handling the case. The court verdict was adversely affected by the lapses on the part of the transport department in issuing the nationalised scheme. There is a Supreme Court ruling that the condition that the scheme should be launched within the stipulated time does not apply. The trade unions say that the government failed to bring this matter to the notice of the high court. There have also been allegations that the transport department deliberately lost the case.

A bus owner, who is also an office-bearer of a private bus organisation and a relative of the transport minister, has come forward calling for more buses to be put on the KSRTC routes. The WhatsApp message said that the government order converting limited-stop private buses, which were plying for a distance of 140 km, into ordinary buses has been scrapped, and a maximum number of limited-stop buses should be rolled out.

Private bus owners have raised the claim that they will get long-distance routes. The government's discretionary powers were used to implement the nationalised scheme and protect the KSRTC when Biju Prabhakar was the transport secretary.