Priya Gour
Published on: 6 August 2022 at 18:38 IST
The Delhi High Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad dismissed a petition on bus services. The petition had challenged the Delhi government’s decision to withdraw the bus services under Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to 70 private schools for ferrying of children was dismissed by the Delhi High Court recently.
It was submitted by the government Counsel that this was a policy decision, and did not involve any interference. Also, no opposition was displayed by the parents and none of the schools or parents had challenged the government’s decision.
A Kerala-based person Baba Alexandar, filed the petition regarding withdrawal of buses. The Court also asked him the reason of filing the petition for schools in Delhi, when he was a resident of the city.
The petitioner submitted before the bench that he was the Founder-Secretary of National Child Development Council (NCDC). It was mentioned in the petition that the withdrawal of DTC buses from schools without any justifiable reason caused a deep sense of agony and disappointment among parents.
It also violates the fundamental right to clean environment, increase vehicular pollution and traffic issues will be seen in the national capital.
This step would not be safe, in regard to spread of COVID 19. This would also be a significant financial burden on the parents of the children.
Counsel for the Delhi government, Advocate Sameer Vashishth submitted that it would be tough to cater the buses to 70 schools since the bus fleet has been depleting. This will have effect on thousands of passengers of the buses suffering.
It was a complete contractual agreement between the 70 schools and DTC , an15was withdrawn after giving a 15-day due notice to the respective schools.
The Bench dismissed the above petition. And a detailed order in this regard is awaited.