Modernise wash areas, toilets so that people come back to KSRTC for travel: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Monday suggested that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) be modernised in what it termed as 'Back to KSRTC movement' so as to boost its use by the public and in turn, its revenue [R Baji v Kerala State Road Transport Corporation & Ors.]..Justice Devan Ramachandran opined that the KSRTC, which has been facing major losses since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, may be able to improve its footing by improving its facilities, especially toilets and wash areas."The basic amenities of the KSRTC will require to be modernized and bettered, particularly its wash areas, toilets and such other, so that more and more people will come back to the KSRTC for travel. This is the "Back to KSRTC" movement and this will certainly be possible with the initiatives that this Court is willing to oversee," the Court said in its order..The Court emphasised that the survival of the KSRTC is vital not just to the thousands of people it employs but also to the general public who rely on it everyday."The survival of the KSRTC is vital and not even a whispering mention of its closure at any point can be countenanced because it provides direct and indirect employment to large sections of persons, while it is used by over six lakhs of people everyday for their travel. There can be no substitution to this through any other method, particularly in a welfare State," the order stated..The Court passed the order on two petitions which highlighted the pendency and delay in payment of salaries to the employees of the KSRTC, which has been the cause of several trade union protests across the State in the recent past."The KSRTC, like its colour, is in the red! not merely red, but deep red," the Court had exclaimed previously, while ordering the KSRTC to pay its employees their salaries by the 5th of every month.The Court had also ordered that drivers, conductors, ministerial staff, mechanical staff, and store staff must be paid their salaries before the supervisory officers..Today, Special Government Pleader Santhosh Kumar, submitted that the Kerala Government has released ₹20 crores to the KSRTC as an interim measure.Advocate Deepu Thankan, standing counsel for KSRTC, informed the Court that for the first time in several months, the KSRTC earned a surplus of ₹3.52 Crores in June, 2022.Thankan further submitted that the KSRTC would consider betterment of its facilities, within its means..The Court recorded the submission in its order and modified its previous order by including sweepers, part-time sweepers, garage masdoor, peon/office attenders, both regular or on contract, in the list of vulnerable employees who are to be paid before supervisory officers..The Court will take up the matter on August 2, by which time the State government is expected to provide an action plan to be decided at a high level meeting which is scheduled convened under the aegis of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan..[Read Order]