Delhi High Court seeks response from State on decision to withdraw DTC buses from private schools

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and the Delhi government to file their responses on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition challenging the decision to withdraw DTC bus services from private schools [Baba Alexander v Delhi Transport Corporation and Ors]. .A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla questioned counsel appearing for the Delhi government as to how the decision was taken. "This has been going on for decades. Was it discontinued only for Covid? No one is saying to it for free. Are these children not public? How much inconvenience is being caused to them,” the Court remarked.The Bench gave the respondents six weeks' time to file their counter-affidavits along with the file noting and reasons that led to this decision.The case will be considered again on August 3..The High Court was dealing with a PIL filed by an activist Baba Alexander, through advocate Robin Raju. The PIL stated that the DTC had withdrawn its services from schools in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the services have not been restored even now though the schools have completely opened. It said that for decades, private schools hired DTC buses for transportation of school children and now its discontinuation has led to children and their parents suffering, as the responsibility has fallen on the parents. This has also been leading to enhanced traffic on the road, the plea argued..Counsel for the Delhi government told the Court that services were offered to the private schools as part of a contract between DTC and schools, and the services have now been withdrawn because the buses are needed for transportation of general public. "DTC was only providing this service under a contractual arrangement. We are under no obligation. We have a shortage off buses. In 2006, we had said that there should be 11,000 buses in Delhi but we are still around 4000 buses short. Efforts are being made to infuse more buses as well but these existing buses are needed for public,” it was submitted..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.