The Uttarakhand High Court has ordered a stay on issuance of permits to private buses on 13 routes fixed for buses of the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC). The bench of chief justice Ritu Bahri and justice Rakesh Thapliyal issued this direction while hearing on a public interest litigation filed by roadways workers union general secretary Ashok Chowdhary.
Questioning the maintainability of the PIL, the government stated that the petitioner should have approached the appellate authority to challenge the decision to issue permits to private buses. The roadways management and union did not register their objection in this matter, it was stated.
Directing the government to file an affidavit, the HC ordered a stay on issuance of permits to private vehicles. The PIL states that 13 routes fixed for roadways buses had been opened to private buses. This decision of the government would negatively impact the revenue of the UTC, the petitioner has contended.
