KOCHI: A stay on director of public education’s order to release school buses for Nava Kerala journey. The high court directed that buses should not be released without the permission of the court. Justice Devan Ramachandran directed that the government should clarify whether school buses are used for public transport.

A native of Kasaragod approached the high court against the order to release school buses to Nava Kerala Sadas. The plea said that if the bus is left for Nava Kerala Sadas on the working day of schools, it will affect the functioning of the schools and as per the Motor Vehicle Rules, the school buses can only be used for educational purposes.

The director of public education had earlier issued an order to release school buses considering the transportation facilities of the public coming to participate in the Nava Kerala Sadas programme. The order was to release the school bus between November 18 and December 23 if the organizers of the Nava Kerala Sadas requested. This had stoked a controversy. The order also stated that the organizing committee should bear the fuel cost of the buses.