Date:13/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/13/stories/2007121361991000.htm

Tamil Nadu

Petition seeks restraint on diversion of bus services

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: A former AIADMK Minister has moved the Madras High Court to restrain State authorities from permitting private bus operators to ply their vehicles on routes other than the permitted one during the DMK’s youth wing meeting in Tirunelveli.

In his public interest litigation petition, D. Jayakumar alleged that the Home Secretary, Transport Secretary and the Transport Commissioner were forcing private bus operators to provide their vehicles for taking DMK cadres to the conference, to be held on December 15 and 16.

He said the petition sought to safeguard the interests of school and college students, where examinations were going on, and pilgrims, besides the general public.

‘Threat to bus operators’

Bus operators, particularly in Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Namakkal areas, are being threatened by party functionaries, Mr. Jayakumar said, adding that allowing private buses to flout the route specifications would be in violation of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the rules laid down by the licensing authority. Claiming that private bus operators were preparing to divert their buses under threat and coercion, the petitioner sought to restrain authorities from permitting such diversion from permitted routes, and to direct them to ensure normal private bus services from December 13 to 17 throughout the State.