RTO rapped over omni buses’ decision to fix own tariff

Based on the newspaper reports, Registrar of Legal Services had taken suo moto action and filed a petition at the High Court. When the petition came up for hearing, the Public Prosecutor (PP) had informed the Court that RTO of Madurai North was in the High Court in connection with another case.

Immediately, the judges summoned the RTO and questioned him. They asked him if there was any Government Order (GO) to regulate the tariff rates of omni buses for which RTO replied in the negative.

Then they asked the RTO on what basis the rates for tickets were fixed in the omni buses for which the RTO replied that based on the different types of bus services such as semi sleeper, sleeper and AC buses the rates differ. The base price of omni bus tickets start from Rs.400 said the RTO. 

“While other states had regulated the tariff rates for omni buses, why had Tamil Nadu not fixed the rates?” asked the judges. The RTO had no answer for this. Then the Judges told him that when the state is able to fix the rate for agricultural produce why not fix the rate for omni bus tickets. The bus service is also an essential one as often the bus operators fleece the passengers during the festival season. 

As RTO could not reply for the queries the Judges directed the State Transport Commissioner and Secretary of State Transport Department to file affidavit by tomorrow, Wednesday.