The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition seeking a direction to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to reconsider its decision to withdraw bus services for private schools in the capital.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramaniam Prasad took note of the fact that due to the increase in the population of Delhi, the DTC is unable to manage the situation and is not in a position to lease out its buses to the schools.
Last year, the DTC had asked schools to look for alternative arrangements, saying it was unable to include public buses in additional services due to the decline in its fleet.
“The reasons given in the counter affidavit filed by the DTC are that the buses have been withdrawn from the schools as the DTC is finding it difficult to meet the needs of the population which is increasing by leaps and bounds and to save the public Is. of the hardships and hardships being faced by them due to non-availability of buses,” the high court said in its August 3 order.
“This court is also of the view that the schools from which the buses have been withdrawn are capable of making alternative arrangements,” the high court said. school.
“There appears to be some merit in the stand taken by the DTC that the return of buses mainly from affluent schools are able to make alternative arrangements, such as induction of private buses for the purpose of plying and transporting students,” High Court added.
Additionally, the court said that it was “always open to the DTC to review its decision as and when it feels that there are sufficient buses with it to be given to schools for the purpose of transporting children from their residences to schools”. may and vice versa”.
The High Court’s decision came on a petition filed by social activist Baba Alexander through advocate Robin Raju, who said that the decision to withdraw DTC bus services from schools would not only affect the students and their parents but every Delhiite. would be adversely affected, as it affects the right to a clean environment.
The petition said that from the point of view of their safety, the decision was creating concern among the students. It added that the withdrawal of DTC buses will add to the financial hardship of the parents as they will have to pay more in transportation charges.
The DTC replied that the buses are given to the schools on the basis of the lease agreement between the DTC and the schools. The DTC further said that in view of the present situation, the provision of DTC buses to function as school buses is causing hardship to the general public as it affects the normal bus service for about four hours a day.