HC summons Transport Secretary for contempt

A public interest litigation petition filed by Veeramani came up for hearing before a Division Bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and SS Sundar.

In the petition, the petitioner claimed to bring transport services to the reach of rural areas, the state government introduced mini bus service. Under this scheme, the government announced that mini bus owners could approach regional transport office of districts concerned and submit applications to operate such buses and permit license would be given to those found eligible. But despite submitting application forms for operating mini buses in Madurai, permission had not been granted.

A total of 81 persons applied for operating mini buses from various parts of Madurai district, but only 18 of such applications were accepted.

After being disappointed over this, the mini bus owners moved the court. The prosecution bench ordered to provide permit license to those who fulfill eligibility conditions. Even after the order issued by the court, the transport authorities had not yet implemented it. Hence, the petitioner sought intervention of the court to implement the order at the earliest.

On hearing the petition, the bench condemned the inordinate delay of the transport authorities in implementing the order, which was passed in 2005. The bench asked why the order was not implemented even after 14 years and sought whether any action had been taken in this regard. As the order was not implemented, the bench summoned the Transport Secretary to appear on Wednesday for his response.