KOCHI: The High Court on Monday asked bus employees to not show any discrimination against students on the basis of concession tickets.

Students should not be discriminated on the basis of concession tickets. The court also observed that such a tendency from bus employees can invite a serious breakdown of the law and order situation. The court's reference came while issuing an order in a criminal case in which the bus employees were accused.

The matter of concession rate hike falls under the purview of the government, and it will be up to the government to decide and ramify such rules. But the court asked the student organisations and bus employees to ameliorate tensions and prepare to accept whatever reforms made.

Meanwhile, KSRTC in an affidavit submitted in the High Court yesterday said there was no discrimination in reducing the concession to 30 per cent for unaided school and self-supporting college students. In the affidavit produced before the court, Deputy Law Officer P.N. Hema says the earlier set of reforms was forced into action considering the serious economic straits endured by the government.

The mid-day meals scheme is exclusive to government and aided schools. The government juxtaposes this to shed light on the new concession rates as a genteel reform but not any discrimination. The affidavit was a response to the petition filed by the CBSE School Management Association and two students against the reduction in concession tickets.