Chennai: Madras high court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL challenging ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme introduced by the TVK govt, providing free bus travel for women and transgender persons in mofussil buses.
Pointing out that the GO was issued on Oct 1 and it was implemented the next day, the court suggested the petitioner challenge the GO and dismissed the PIL as withdrawn with liberty to work out a remedy in accordance with law.
“You must challenge the GO passed by the govt for the scheme and not the announcement made in the assembly,” the court said. You cannot do that; you must confine to your route of operation,” the bench said. “You are challenging an announcement made in the state Assembly. You are also a bus operator; then how is this PIL maintainable?”, the first bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan asked. The petition was moved by N Kalamani, who operates two private buses in the Erode district. “You (petitioner) claim to be a bus operator in a particular area, but you are challenging a scheme that is rolled out for the entire state.
Because families would naturally prefer to travel together, the petitioner claimed that private bus operators would not only stand to lose women passengers but also men,. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in Chennai Stay updated with the latest Chennai news. She feared that passengers would not get on her buses since many govt buses run on those routes. Download the TOI App.