Minister calls meeting to discuss court ruling on permit for private buses operating more than 140 km

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The minister called a meeting today amid criticism that the transport department did not take action despite the high court ruling that long-distance services facing setbacks. The high court quashed the provision in the new motor vehicle scheme that private buses should not be granted permits for a distance exceeding 140 km. Public sector body KSRTC's reluctance to file an appeal against this verdict was also criticized. Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar today called a meeting of the top officials of the transport department to discuss this verdict.

Legal experts and top officials of KSRTC will participate in the meeting. What further action is possible in the judgment of the high court will be discussed in the meeting. KSRTC has been advised to file an appeal. On Wednesday, the High Court quashed the ban on private buses operating over 140 km on a petition by bus owners. KSRTC sends superclass buses from Fast Passenger upwards for services of more than 140 km. Information is that all services are profitable.

There is a strong allegation that the KSRTC and the Transport Department failed in conducting the case. The court's judgment turned negative for the lapses of the transport department in launching the nationalization scheme. The Supreme Court has ruled that the condition of launching the scheme within a specified time is not applicable. The labour organizations alleged that the government failed to bring the matter to the attention of the high court. It has also been alleged that the transport department deliberately lost the case.

A bus owner, also a relative of the transport minister, a private bus organization official, came forward calling to operate more buses on the routes of KSRTC. A WhatsApp message says that the government order which changed the limited stop private buses that were running at a distance of 140 km to ordinary ones has been canceled and maximum number of limited stop buses should be released.