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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Delhi Government and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to ensure that entire fleet of DTC buses ply on roads in the city providing the services to all.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia closed a PIL seeking urgent directions on the authorities for restoration and reasonable continuity of DTC and public bus services across the national capital.

Filed by Ami Sisodia, the plea was against the strike by drivers, conductors and other personnel associated with bus operations.

For context, the drivers and conductors are on strike to demand higher daily wages (raising pay from Rs. 862 to Rs. 2,000 per day), medical and accident insurance, paid leaves, and implementation of a "same work, same scale" policy.

It was submitted that travel by DTC buses is the cheapest mode of travel and non plying of the same impacts the lower section of the society the most.

The counsel appearing for DTC submitted that the situation as on today has improved and 96 percent of buses are plying on roads.

The Court disposed of the plea, ordering thus:

“Since the situation is improving, we do not intend to pass any direction. However, we expect all the authorities (Delhi government and DTC) to take all measures to ensure that the entire fleet of DTC bus in Delhi is on roads providing services to the commuters.”

The Court was informed by DTC's counsel of the proposal sent by DTC to the Delhi Government for invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act 1968 on September 16-17.

On this, the Bench said:

“We thus expect that the state government shall review the situation and taken appropriate steps to ensure that plying of DTC buses is maintained on roads.”

It added that in case the situation does not improve in a week, the petitioner may approach the Court again.

According to the petition, the disruption has particularly affected women commuters who depend on the free bus travel facility provided by the Delhi government.

It states that, due to the disruption, the petitioner and other women commuters have been compelled to use substantially more expensive alternative modes of transport.

The plea, however, says that the issue goes beyond the petitioner and affects a large section of Delhi's population, including students, daily-wage workers, salaried employees, senior citizens, persons with disabilit patients and economically weaker sections who rely on affordable public transport.

Title: Ami Sisodia v. GNCTD & Ors

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