KOCHI: The High Court has said that it is discriminatory for top officials in KSRTC to take salaries without paying ordinary employees. The High Court said that they cannot turn a blind eye to the misery of ordinary workers in KSRTC and that the demand of the employees to withhold the salaries of the top officials as long as they were not paid was justified. The remarks were made by Justice Devan Ramachandran after considering a petition filed by KSRTC employees.

The petitioners alleged that the officers and supervisors were being paid regularly and that the loan repayment was the only priority in the revenue of KSRTC. KSRTC's lawyer explained the liabilities and crises faced by the company

The court observed that it would not hesitate to stop the practice of paying salaries only to top officials without paying the ordinary employees and that it was the responsibility of KSRTC to pay salaries to the employees on time. The court also directed KSRTC to respond to the petition.

The lawyer of KSRTC clarified that the service is being run in the public interest and profit is not the main objective. The High Court said that if the KSRTC does not make a profit, then the government will have to intervene to make up for the loss. The petition was then adjourned to June 8 for further clarification by the KSRTC and the government